I’m Aimi , 38 year old, mum of two boys, wife of a police officer and this year is a big one for me as I hit the 5 year mile stone since my Brain Tumour diagnosis.

AND I have just got my driving licence back after 3 years of not being able to drive…..FREEDOM resumes!! 

Now I just want to shine some spotlight on us peeps ‘living’ with a brain tumour. And the huge impact it can have on life.

 I have a low grade glioma, located in my left thalamus (google it, crappy place , hey!)

 I was 34 weeks pregnant with my second son when I had a funny turn, which I now know to be my first seizure and the first sign that there may be something wrong.  

Fast forward a few weeks after birth, I had an mri scan and soon after was given THE NEWS!

I was told the tumour is likely cancerous and they referred me to the specialists at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. Like everyone , who has no experience or knowledge of brain tumours, I instantly thought death… 

Some long lonely nights feeding my newborn baby whilst sobbing, thinking I won’t be here for the boys. The fantastic team at Addenbrooke’s gave us some better news.  That the tumour is calcified which means it’s been there a long time, most likely since childhood. Because of its location, surgery is not an option and instead they will scan me regularly to see what happens .  

Not really over the news , but living the busy life a mum does , I returned to work after maternity leave and started to feel strong. Queue another seizure at work, great…

 Now feeling very vulnerable about my health, I had to start taking epileptic medication , which gave me literally all the side effects listed! I had to wean myself onto the dosage and had a few months off work to get used to it. 

June 2020 , lockdown era,  I had another seizure , this time I had to hand my driving licence over to the dvla.Mid lockdown, living in a small village with two kids and a husband who had to work through the pandemic.We had no choice , we needed to move house into the town so I could be a position to walk to shops , school and nursery. A desperate move to cling onto some freedom. 

The impact that had on the kids is huge, three years of not being able to sign them up for swimming lessons, after school clubs , the logistics of getting them to friends parties… not being allowed to bath them on my own in case I had a seizure! I know in the grand scheme of things it’s the small stuff… but mentally and emotionally it took its toll. Mainly mum guilt.

The HERE and NOW. I have been stable and haven’t had a seizure for over a year, I now know my body and it’s limits, I will do all I can to look after myself to avoid another seizure .

 I just had my latest 6 monthly scan and I can confirm my tumour has not grown at all since my diagnosis. It’s been decided the best thing to do is ‘watch and wait’ If it was located elsewhere I would definitely have the tumour removed.But the location and the impact it could have even going in for a biopsy could be life changing. 

Living low grade is a tough card to be dealt with too. 

I would love to use my current health to do something valuable and make a difference.

Running the marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity is on my (not bucket) but LIFE list. I’d love to tick it off…..

The statistics:

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40

Just 12% of adults survive for five years after diagnosis

Research offers the only real hope of dramatic improvements in the management and treatment of brain tumours. Over £700m is spent on cancer research in the UK every year, yet less than 3% is spent on brain tumours

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we're moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.

We're set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And we're doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can't wait.