In Our Hearts

Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years

These very brave people will remain in our hearts for ever and it is because of them that we are fighting to find a cure so that no other family should have to suffer in the same way.

"We thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday, and days before that too."

Anon

You are forever in our hearts.

Recently published stories

Daniel Franklin

Daniel Franklin, a kitchen assistant from Worthing, West Sussex, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) in October 2020 after suffering with balance problems and sickness. The location of the tumour on his brain stem rendered it inoperable but he did have radiotherapy. He went on to have chemotherapy, which proved ineffective, and a second round of radiotherapy, which he complemented with holistic treatments. Sadly, from August 2021, his health began to deteriorate and he died at home three months later at the age of 26.

James Lamerton

James Lamerton, a teacher from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in his pineal gland in October 2021, later identified as a grade 4 glioblastoma (GBM). He was being treated for sleep apnoea at the time and was taking medication for migraines thought to be connected to the condition. He suffered complications following surgery and died five weeks after his diagnosis, at the age of 40, leaving behind his wife, Myriam and their two-year-old daughter, Layla.

Natalie Harding

Natalie from Coventry was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was 27, after suffering a seizure out-of-the-blue. A scan at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire showed a mass on her brain. Over the next four years, Natalie had four operations and endured countless rounds of gruelling chemotherapy treatment. After initially being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) a clinical trial found Natalie was living with an extremely rare type of brain tumour. Desperate to fight the disease, Natalie paid for innovative treatment, travelling regularly to Germany, however the cancer was too aggressive and she died aged 31 in November 2021.

Josh Brown

Josh passed away aged 29, four years after being diagnosed with a pilocytic astrocytoma. The Port Vale supporter planned his own funeral with his beloved pug Diggs to lead the procession wearing a harness in Chelsea blue (his other favourite football team).

Judith Slinn

Qualified pharmacist, part-time teacher, wife and mum to two teenagers, Judith Slinn was diagnosed with a low-grade brain tumour after experiencing problems with her speech. She had radiotherapy and later underwent surgery and chemo when the tumour recurred. Judith spent her last weeks in a hospice with her family at her bedside and passed away in May 2016 at the age of 54.

“Mum went for an MRI which revealed she had a ‘growth’ on her brain. I can remember exactly how and when I was told. Dad took me for a walk outside the hospital and broke the news but the reality didn’t sink in until later. I wasn’t even thinking about cancer, it was just too much and too awful to comprehend. Somehow, Dad managed to remain calm. Even then we didn’t think things were really bad but that it would be dealt with and everything would be OK. We didn’t think it was serious and certainly never thought she would die from it.”

Judith Todd

Retired maths teacher and former parish councillor Judith Todd was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in 2016 after complaining of persistent headaches, initially attributed to pain emanating from a skiing injury to her knee the year before. The mother-of-three, who lived in Norwich, Norfolk, underwent three operations, as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, but suffered a stroke during her last surgery which left her paralysed down her left-hand side. Sadly, COVID-19 restrictions meant she was forced to spend her initial three-month recovery alone but she was reunited with her childhood sweetheart and husband of 39 years for seven months before passing away at home three days before Christmas in 2020.

Julie Harvey

We are grateful to Julie who worked with us in July 2017 to share her story here. Sadly, she passed away in February 2019. We remember Julie as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. She will be forever in our hearts.

Bristol mum of two, Julie Harvey, is living with a grade four glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a very aggressive form of brain tumour. Though doctors have given her a 14 month prognosis, she is taking every opportunity to indulge her love of swimming and spend time with her friends and family. Having lost her sister in her 20s to a head injury sustained from a freak horse riding accident, Julie is determined to not waste precious time dwelling on her illness and has set herself the challenge of swimming two miles in open water around Brownsea Island, something she has always wanted to do.

“Telling my friends and family about the brain tumour was awful, especially my mum and dad. Sitting them down to tell them they were going to lose another one of their children was heart-breaking. I want to enjoy my life and don’t want to be remembered for the cancer, but for being me.”

June Irene Pile

Wife, mother and grandmother June Pile passed away less than six months after undergoing surgery for an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In her final weeks she was able to fulfill her dying wish to see her youngest son marry. Sadly, she was taken ill later the same day and passed away a fortnight later at the age of 72.

“As many family members as possible gathered at short notice to witness my brother’s marriage. Mum took pride of place at the front and it was a lovely, moving, and at times funny, ceremony. Afterwards I even caught mum light-heartedly lecturing Steven about looking after his bride and making her happy. Sadly, these were her last audible words. Shortly after she was taken back to her room after suffering a seizure; a nurse explained that the excitement of the day had got the better of her. To see my mum going through this was unbearable and more upsetting than words could ever express.” Read more

Kate Hickman

We are grateful to Kate who worked with us in November 2016 to share her story here. Sadly, she passed away in May 2018. We remember Kate as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. She will be forever in our hearts.

Kate Hickman, 35, had been feeling tired and run down for a while, when she suffered a sudden seizure in June 2016. Thanks to the concern and persistence of her friends and husband, she was finally given a brain scan where they discovered a “massive shadow”. Kate went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and her treatment is still ongoing.

“At the moment, my impression is that this next lot of treatment might be enough. I want to stay positive and most of the time I succeed, but some of that is just a front. I certainly have moments of despair… I feel I just have to try and crack on.”
Read more

Katherine Carnegie

Katherine and I met in 1994, we both worked hard in London writing and designing for various glossy magazines. In 2002 we moved to France to bring up our son Milo and daughter Ella. Life was good. Katherine turned out to be a talented travel writer and was receiving commissions back to the UK, much to my chagrin as I was supposed to be the talented writer in the family, and I was busy renovating our home near Nimes, and writing a book. Katherine was incredibly popular in the village, she was beautiful, thoughtful, polite, kind and gracious, and made a huge effort to engage and fit in with village life. Read more

Kathy Bridge

Kathy was 62 and looking forward to enjoying a well-earned retirement when she was diagnosed with a stroke which was later found to be a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme brain tumour. Her prognosis was very poor. She passed away just four months later, but not without an enormous amount of degeneration and suffering.

“Losing Mum has left a huge hole in my life and for her to die from a brain tumour was the most horrible way for her to go. She changed so much both physically and mentally. It was awful watching her deteriorate in this way. But whilst it was absolutely heart-wrenching to lose the woman I considered my best friend, I would have hated to see her continuing to suffer for any longer. I feel for anyone who has to go through the agony of a brain tumour.” Read more

Katie Dean

Katie Dean was just six years old when she died of a brain tumour. Her diagnosis came after suffering from terrible headaches, which were dismissed as migraines for several months. Though it’s been 16 years since Katie died in July 2003 her dad Scott, an officer with Staffordshire Police, still remembers losing his darling daughter as if it were yesterday. Read more

Katrina Durham

Katrina was eventually diagnosed with an Astrocytoma grade III, having experienced seizures for several years – her consultant had been happy just to monitor her. Eventually, however, despite a craniotomy and chemotherapy, Katrina succumbed to the tumour and passed away at the age of 43.

Here is Katrina’s story…

“Katrina was such a beautiful person – she was gentle and kind, passionate and determined and was so full of love and compassion. I am just so grateful and privileged to have shared 24 years with someone so unique, extraordinary and amazing, but I miss her terribly.

Now I want to increase awareness of this terrible disease for which there is no known cure and celebrate Katrina’s life.” Read more