We are delighted to be able to wish Katie Smith a happy 40th birthday today – she was told 10 years ago that she had a 50/50 chance of surviving this long.
Mum to seven-year-old Eli, Katie, who has an oligoastrocytoma, is marking the auspicious date with a celebratory dinner along with her beloved family. This comes ahead of a trip to Hawaii, where she and husband Luke will mark their 10th wedding anniversary on 21st July and renew their vows.
Katie said: “It’s such a big thing for me to reach this age and still be Luke’s wife and Eli’s mummy.
“When I learned, aged 30, that my constant debilitating headaches were caused by a low-grade brain tumour, I was very relieved when it was successfully removed through surgery. Until that is, I discovered I had a one in three chance of the tumour returning within five years as a higher grade and a 50/50 chance of making it to the age of 40.”
Katie set up a Fundraising Group called Brainstorm, which has raised an incredible total of more than £70,000 to date for the Charity. She is currently undertaking 15 challenges for 15 years of research impact, which she had to pause when, sadly, her mum (pictured above left on Katie's wedding day) passed away last year.
Good luck, Katie, with your next challenge – an ice bath!
If you are inspired by Katie do make a birthday donation to Brainstorm.
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