Kimberley’s story
Finding strength in support: Kimberley’s inspiring journey
Kimberley’s story highlights the transformative power of timely support provided by Brain Tumour Support. Kimberley, a devoted teacher and mother, faced a challenging journey following the discovery of her brain tumour. Despite the difficulties, including surgery and ongoing treatment, she found hope and resilience through the charity’s Facebook Forum and local support groups.
Something just doesn’t feel right
Kimberley’s life as a busy mum and teacher changed one week in early June 2023. She had been battling a ‘headache from hell’, saying to a friend at the school where she worked that ‘Something just doesn’t feel right’ and at lunchtime she had to go home. When her face also started to tingle down the left side, she thought it might be a panic attack, since she had been told by doctors that the lightheaded spells she had experienced since the age of 19 were caused by anxiety. However, through the week the headache got considerably worse and was completely debilitating, keeping her in bed apart from two visits to the GP and two to A&E, where ultimately she was told to continue with medication for a ‘bad migraine’ and advised ‘You’re stressed out at work, you need to go on a spa day, take time for yourself and relax.’
On the Sunday of that week Kimberley had been due to take her five year old son, George, to an early morning swimming session but, still not feeling right, she stayed at home in bed and her husband took their son instead. They returned home to find Kimberley having a seizure in a bed. The first that she remembers is seeing paramedics, her husband, son, parents and brother all at her house and initially having no idea what was going on.
Five words that changed our lives
Kimberley was taken to A&E and then the neurosurgery ward, and on Monday morning, after persistent requests from her family for an urgent scan to be done, she had an MRI scan. The next day doctors came to her bedside and told her, ‘You have a brain tumour.’ She recalls receiving that news –
The five words that changed our lives for the foreseeable future. In this moment, I felt like my world had shattered and I broke down in tears.
The following week, Monday 20th June, Kimberley underwent a craniotomy that successfully removed 95% of the tumour. This however was just the start of her treatment as she was going to have to face radiotherapy and chemotherapy too. But, in July, she faced an added complication as she had contracted an infection in her skull and required a further operation to remove a small section of skull bone. Then in August, she developed sepsis from the Hickman Line that was put in place to deliver the iv antibiotics that she needed. It was one hurdle after another, which delayed her radiotherapy by six weeks.
In September, when the infections were finally under control, Kimberley began 33 sessions of radiotherapy which were completed in November, and she is currently undergoing chemotherapy which is due to be completed in December this year. The chemotherapy can be gruelling, some months being fine, others causing extreme fatigue and sickness.
Ongoing treatment and the importance of support
Kimberley’s treatment is going well but her brain tumour is a grade 3 astrocytoma and faster growing than most, so regrowth is possible and she lives with the knowledge that the future is uncertain. She has also lost a significant amount of her independence. At present she has had to relinquish her driving licence and has to rely on family to do all of the housework. She says her illness has at times taken away her main purposes in life,– being a good wife, daughter, granddaughter, mum, friend and teacher. She is yet to return to work due to her treatment, and says she takes longer to process information and can sometimes feel a little overwhelmed. Life has changed for her family too, with her husband no being her carer, as well as working a full time job.
However, with support around her from the neurosurgery team at the Royal Stoke Hospital, the Cancer Specialist Nurses, and external services, such as neuropsychology and support groups Kimberley remains positive and is ‘slowly getting back to being me.’
Having the one-to-one contact with a Brain Tumour Support Professional, and connecting with other people who are going through similar experiences, both online in the Brain Tumour Support Forum on Facebook and face to face at support group meetings in Stoke, has made a crucial difference to Kimberley. She says her family and friends have been amazing but that nothing quite matches up to meeting people who have been through it themselves, and without that she doesn’t know how she would have coped.
Without them I don’t know where I’d be now. I’d probably be in a dark place.
She also feels positive that through those interactions she has helped other people in their journeys. Through the Facebook Forum she has even formed a wonderful bond with someone who is over 200 miles away and they have already planned to meet half way next year, when they have both finished their treatment.
As well as sharing the importance of good support and connecting with others after a brain tumour diagnosis, Kimberley is also keen to raise awareness and encourage anyone to know their body, know the signs of a brain tumour and trust their instincts if they feel ‘something’s not right’. She says,
If you have a headache that stops you from doing your normal daily life, are lightheaded or have vision changes, get it checked! I wish I had done it sooner.
Story shared in June 2024
Inspiring fundraising
Kimberley’s remarkable and generous spirit has driven her to not only raise as much awareness as she can around symptoms and impact of brain tumours, but she has also been fundraising for Brain Tumour Support to help ensure that the support which has been so valuable for her will continue to be there for others.
In July this year she took on an incredible challenge, alongside her lifelong friend Raj, when together they abseiled down the Arnfield Stadium in Liverpool. They not only conquered their fear of heights, they also raised an astonishing £7,050.
Kimberley’s will and spirit continues to move and inspire us.
Kimberley and her son George, after a fundraising ‘Mad Hair Day’ at school
Brain Tumour Support provides specialist, personalised support if you or a loved one have been affected in any way by any type of brain tumour. Support is available at any stage and for as long as it’s needed. Find out more about how we can help.
If you have been touched by Kimberley’s story and would like to contribute to Brain Tumour Support’s work there are many ways that you can get involved to help ensure that anyone facing the impact of a brain tumour diagnosis can find support.
If you are able to make a donation, helping us to be here for more people like Kimberley, we would be very grateful. Our support services are always free to access and rely on the generosity of fundraising and donations to be maintained. Thank you so much.
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