About Me
Never Give Up
From an early age, having to juggle a battle with cancer and face difficult educational needs resulted in my development of a thicker skin and an attitude of determination; to better myself and live life to the full.
Never Say Never
Life has taught me that with enough determination, anything is possible. Whether it’s recovering from a serious illness or working through the hardships of day-to-day life, you can do it, if you put your mind to it. It may sound cliché, but failure is only a bump in the road to success.
Never Stop Dreaming
We are the results of our experience and throughout my journey I have learned the importance of being a dreamer. For most people life seems to get in the way and the barrier of ‘realism’ clouds what they believe is possible of themselves. This can be hard to break, but with the right amount of determination you can manifest anything.
Unexpected Start In Life...
My story
I was first diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour in 2002 when I was 6 years old.
Because of the dangerous position of the tumour, the doctors could not remove it but they did operate to relieve the pressure of fluid in my head, a condition known as hydrocephalus. They hoped that monitoring the tumour would be sufficient, and that I would not need any more treatment.
When I was 11, however, the tumour started growing. It was at this time a crucial decision had to be made. At 11 years old I was still too young to understand the enormity of the situation and the massive repercussions this could have for me.
An essential biopsy meant going deep into my brain.
The doctors diagnosed a rare form of brain tumour, a tanycitic ependymoma. I spent a lot of time in hospital and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The treatment was very unpleasant and left me feeling very tired and weak. After my treatment I was given hormone replacements because the radiation had damaged my pituitary gland. It also left me with short-term memory and anxiety issues.
Now, I’m 21. Recent scans have shown that the tumour has shrunk and hasn’t grown for 10 years. This is due to the fantastic treatment I received from my doctors and the alternative treatments my family and friends supported me with.
The Journey Changed My Life
Growing up with cancer and its after-effects has been a challenging experience, but while you may not be able to choose every situation in life, you can decide how to deal with them.
During my treatment I chose to make some changes and the difference they made were unbelievable – even the doctors were surprised! Lifestyle choices are so important and their repercussions can be massive, both physically and mentally.
General well-being is essential in recovery. Having looked very carefully at what I eat, I ensure that I exercise regularly to build up my general fitness and have supplemented my diet with vitamins. It’s not about a quick fix, but about maintaining the right balance between good nutrition and physical activities to optimise your health.
Also, having the wakeup call from an early age has led me to build strategies to develop my well-being, hobbies and interests. I am very grateful to the very many people who have aided my recovery in so many ways; individuals I have met, medical staff, friends, family and the organisations who supported me during my illness, have all contributed to making me the man I am today.
Most of all, it is important to remain positive, no matter what illness you have or troubles you face. My journey has led me through some ups and downs, but through it all I have discovered new things that I love doing and great people whom I feel privileged to call my friends and for this I am grateful.