Sarah’s Journey: Mum-of-Two Faces New Battle as Brain Tumour Returns

Self-employed hairdresser Sarah Wilson was several months into her second pregnancy when she started noticing unsettling symptoms. What should have been a joyous time was overshadowed by strange health issues that left her fearing something more sinister was happening beneath the surface.

At just 27 years old and six months pregnant, Sarah experienced numbness in her cheek, balance problems, and hearing loss in her left ear, accompanied by tinnitus. Despite these troubling symptoms, her doctors initially reassured her, attributing them to pregnancy. However, Sarah’s instincts told her otherwise. “I got a feeling something wasn’t right,” Sarah shared with the Manchester Evening News. “My instinct was telling me. Every time I went to a doctor, they said it was pregnancy-related symptoms.”

After several visits, Sarah was eventually referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, but the appointment was delayed for eight months. By the time it took place, an MRI was scheduled for after her C-section. Her concerns grew when she noticed that her eye wasn’t squinting or closing properly during a sunny school run with her eldest child.

A week after giving birth to her son, Sarah underwent the MRI scan, and she immediately sensed bad news. “As soon as I came out the room and I saw the staff, I could just tell from looking at them,” she recalled. “I knew what was going on. I was sat there with my baby and my mum and I saw a nurse take a box of tissues in. I said to my mum, ‘I bet I get called into that room.”, told the Mirror.

Sarah’s fears were confirmed when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The tumour was removed through surgery, and Sarah was given hope, with only a one percent chance of its return. Remarkably, her pregnancy had helped soften the side effects, reducing the pressure of the tumour on her brain.

However, the surgery left her with lasting damage, including deafness in her left ear, balance issues, and nerve problems. For a decade, Sarah continued to attend routine appointments, believing she was in the clear—until June 2024, when a scan revealed the tumour had returned.

Now 38, Sarah is faced with difficult decisions, as new treatments could impact her ability to swallow, speak, or lead to facial paralysis. Determined to fight, she is fundraising for a private consultation to explore her treatment options. “I didn’t even for one minute think it would come back,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is really inconvenient, I don’t need an appointment to be told it’s not come back.'”

Her fundraiser explains, “Sarah’s spirit remains unbroken, and she is determined to fight this battle with the same positivity that has always defined her.” The campaign aims to raise £4,000 to help Sarah balance her work and health needs, allowing her to focus on recovery without financial stress. Any extra funds will be donated to a charity of Sarah’s choice. “Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a meaningful impact,” it reads, emphasizing the community’s support for Sarah during this challenging time.