A young woman living with the effects of a brain tumour has shared how her love of gaming has helped her cope.
Tegan Josie, 23, has been left with a number of serious underlying medical conditions since being diagnosed with an inoperable low-grade prolactinoma at the age of 11. She spent three months in Manchester Children’s Hospital following her diagnosis, where she was put on dopamine agonist cabergoline, which worked to shrink the tumour.
In 2015, Tegan was dealt a further blow when she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Her health has continued to deteriorate over the years and basic daily activities can be a real struggle.
Alongside support from her family and partner Karl, Tegan has found solace in video games as a way of escaping her health problems.
Now, with a large social media following on platforms including Instagram, Twitter, Twitch and TikTok and she’s using her impressive digital presence to share her story. Working with Brain Tumour Research, she is raising awareness of brain tumours and has shared her story, including in The Mirror.
Tegan said: “Up to now, I’ve shied away from sharing my story with all but my closest friends and relatives. Recently, I decided that maybe I should be more open, especially since mine is an invisible illness and not many people would know what I’m contending with on a daily basis. I’ve had a fantastic response and people are so supportive. I hope that maybe I can inspire and offer hope to others.”