Hayley Burrows, 36, from Rainford, Merseyside, was overjoyed to be expecting her first child with husband Daniel, when a frightening seizure in her sleep revealed a hidden danger that had gone undetected for over a decade. Just days before giving birth, Hayley was diagnosed with a large meningioma pressing against the memory section of her brain. Shortly after, she gave birth to baby Oliver via c-section, and had the tumour removed nine weeks later. Although she faced post-op difficulties, Hayley is determined to support Brain Tumour Research in finding a cure for all brain tumours.
Hayley tells her story…
At the start of 2023, I was preparing for one of the most exciting times in my life. Daniel, my partner at the time and now my husband, and I were expecting our first baby. We were living with my parents while waiting for our new home to be completed. Life was moving quickly, and despite some of the difficulties in my pregnancy, I was looking forward to the future.
The pregnancy itself was far from easy. I developed hyperemesis gravidarum, which meant I was being sick constantly and was admitted to hospital more than ten times. I was severely dehydrated and had to be put on a drip and given intravenous anti-sickness medication. I also had a series of infections, including pleurisy and conjunctivitis so severe that my eyes stuck together. At the time, it just seemed like a difficult pregnancy. It never occurred to me that there could be something much more serious going on.
At 35 weeks pregnant, I woke up one morning and began shaking uncontrollably on one side of my body.
An ambulance was called and I was taken to The Walton Centre, where I was told it was likely an infection and sent home with antibiotics. Just a few nights later, while we were sleeping, I had a seizure. My mum and Daniel called 999 and I was taken to hospital again. The doctors thought it was epilepsy brought on by pregnancy and were preparing to discharge me when I had another, more serious seizure. This time I turned blue and began foaming at the mouth. I was taken back to The Walton Centre where they finally carried out an MRI scan and the results found a large brain tumour.
I have no memory of being told about the tumour. It wasn’t until later that I found out it was pressing on the part of my brain that controls memory, which explained the confusion and memory loss. I didn’t understand what was happening, and at that point, I was too unwell to process it even if I had. The only thing I knew was that I was about to become a mum, and suddenly my health was in question.
Specialists at The Walton Centre in Liverpool identified the tumour as a meningioma. They explained that it had probably been growing for 10 to 15 years. The good news was that it was operable. But first, they had to deliver the baby. On 1 April 2023, I had an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic.
When I woke up, it broke my heart to know Oliver had already been born and I couldn’t remember it happening.
After two nights in hospital, I was discharged home with Oliver, but life was far from normal. I had to be constantly monitored in case I had another seizure. I wasn’t allowed to be left alone with Oliver and couldn’t drive for 12 months. Two weeks after the birth, I met with my neurosurgeon, who would be looking after me for the next ten years. He confirmed the tumour was benign and removable, and I was scheduled for surgery at the end of May.
Leaving Oliver on the day of the operation was incredibly emotional. Up until that point I had just been getting through each day, but saying goodbye to him that morning really hit me. It was the first time I allowed myself to feel the full weight of everything I had been through.
Thankfully, the surgery was a success – The entire tumour was removed and I didn’t suffer any long-term neurological damage.
I was discharged after two nights, but the recovery process was difficult. At times, I couldn’t even feed or hold Oliver. I had to rely heavily on Daniel and our families to take care of both me and the baby. I was constantly exhausted, and sleep was the only thing that helped my brain recover.
Over the summer, I focused on healing physically and mentally. I was still adjusting to motherhood while trying to come to terms with everything that had happened. It wasn’t until October that my mental health began to decline. That same month, I lost my nan to cancer. We were incredibly close and had seen each other every day. The grief, combined with the trauma of the past months, became too much. I was diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD and began therapy with the Standing Tall Foundation. Those sessions have been a huge source of support, and I still attend monthly.
Going through this has completely changed my perspective. I used to stress about little things, but now I try to focus on what really matters. That doesn’t mean I never get overwhelmed, but I’ve learned how quickly life can change. Losing my independence, especially not being able to drive, was a massive adjustment. The medication caused weight gain and puffiness, which really affected my confidence.
I truly believe that being pregnant saved my life – If it hadn’t been for Oliver, the tumour may never have been discovered.
Before my diagnosis, I didn’t know anyone who had experienced a brain tumour. Now I want to use my voice to help others understand how serious they can be. I was one of the lucky ones, and I want more people to have that same chance.
That’s why I signed up for the 200k in May Your Way challenge to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. I’m walking and swimming throughout the month to reach 200 kilometres. It isn’t always easy. I still get headaches and I am not as fit as I used to be, but this challenge is more than just physical. It’s about reclaiming strength and doing something positive. I want to help fund the research that saved my life so that others can have hope too.
One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. This disease is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
If you have been inspired by Hayley’s story, you may like to make a donation via www.braintumourresearch.org/donate or leave a gift in your will via www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy
Together we will find a cure.
