When Alexeanne Cherrington was diagnosed with a brain tumour, she was told she wouldn’t be able to have children. Against all odds she fell pregnant and is now a mother of two daughters. She shares what Mother’s Day means to her.
I was only 23 when I found out that I had a brain tumour in 2003. It was all such a blur and everything happened fast. I think I blanked out what the future would be like because everything felt so rushed. I remember my mum was in tears, it was hard for her to deal with the news. She really helped me through this difficult time and was always by my side.
The doctors explained that there was an 80% chance I wouldn’t survive the operation, and even if I did, there was a 20% chance I’d be severely disabled. But I needed to have this surgery. It was a lot to take in, going from a normal life to thinking I could die. I was eventually diagnosed with a neurocytoma and remained in hospital for nearly a year. I had to relearn everything, how to talk, how to move. I communicated by pointing at pictures, if I wanted to talk to my mum, I’d point to her photo.
A few years later, I met my husband Dean and felt like life was getting back on track. But in 2007, the headaches returned and we were told the tumour had grown back. There was more to take in; I was told I couldn’t have children because of where it was positioned on my pituitary gland.
One of my dreams was to have children, so hearing this was devastating. At first, I felt angry and sad but then told myself to get over it and carry on. I don’t let things hold me back and I wasn’t going to be defeated by this news. I was still determined to be a mum in whatever way possible. Dean and I spoke about being parents and how much this meant to us. We decided to apply to foster. This process happened surprisingly quickly, and we soon began our journey as foster parents.
We’ve since fostered 29 children, mostly teenage boys. Many of them had traumatic childhoods, but they were so loving and our relationships were like friendships, not just parents. We were there for them to listen to their worries and offer constant support. We still see them and will always welcome them to our home; this is a safe space for them. They call me ‘Mum’, which means a lot.
I’ve always been close to my mum, and when she passed away, I kept going over things she’d said to me before she died. I remember her telling me to try IVF and just see what could happen. I knew Mum would want this, so I started the process and soon after, fell pregnant with our daughter Amelia, who’s now 12. She’s a mini-me, just full of energy and very stubborn. She’s focused on school but is becoming a little rebellious. She loves music and she’s been entered into a couple of running events with us to raise awareness about brain tumours. I thrive on running in the morning, even in the rain, and taking on challenges to prove that I can achieve what seems impossible.
Soon after Amelia was born, I started to feel sick and worried that a tumour had once again returned. It turned out I was pregnant! Against all odds I had conceived naturally and gave birth to Georgia-May in 2015. She’s now nine and is my wild child, always outdoors, climbing trees and having adventures.
With Mother’s Day approaching I’m filled with joy about being able to celebrate this occasion. From being told I wouldn’t be able to have children, to being a mum to two wonderful daughters, feels like a miracle. We enjoy running and having family time together, so we’ll probably go out on this day. It’s not about spending money, if you’re with the ones you love, that’s all that matters.
I’ll also be remembering my mum on Mother's Day. She passed away before Amelia and Georgia-May were born and this breaks my heart. I always tell them stories about their nanny, so they know what an amazing woman she was.
I was at a garden centre once and saw a plant labelled ‘Sally Rose’. Mum’s name is Sally, so it felt like it was meant to be. I immediately bought the rose bush and planted it in her honour. Her memory lives on, in the roses that bloom beautifully, in the photos I show my daughters and in the stories about her that we share.
Mum and my daughters have inspired me to never give up. Sometimes I have speech problems and struggle with epilepsy, but this doesn’t stop me from getting involved in fundraising activities. People said I couldn’t climb Mount Snowdon, but I did. I’m now trying to arrange an event like ‘It’s a Knockout’ to raise money for Brain Tumour Research and draw attention to the impacts of this deadly disease. It’s an amazing feeling to trek peaks and take on new challenges, nothing is ever impossible.
If Alexeanne’s story has inspired you, please make a one-off donation or set up a regular gift by clicking here. Or why not sign up to Wear A Hat Day and hold a fundraising event in your community, school or workplace? Find out more.
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