A Berkshire man who lost his wife to a brain tumour has sent out a rallying cry for more investment in research to find a cure for the devastating disease.
Mother-of-three Lisa Flanagan was just 46 years old when she was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma in 2018. What began as spates of severe fatigue worsened during the COVID pandemic, and she eventually lost the ability to speak and move.
Husband Simon, now 56, pleaded with consultants to carry out further tests, but it was only after Lisa was admitted to a palliative care centre that she underwent another MRI scan, revealing the true extent of the swelling. The family began exploring alternative treatments but, tragically, Lisa died just four days later.
“To be told she had a couple of days to live and have the rug pulled out from underneath you was devastating,” said Simon. “The light in the tunnel was extinguished so quickly.”
Now, Simon is urging the Government to come good on its promise to spend £40 million on research into brain tumours, so that other families don’t have to suffer the same trauma. “It’s absurd that such a devastating disease isn’t getting the attention it needs,” said Simon.
For now, the family is focused on making its own fundraising contribution. Previously, Simon and the youngest of his and Lisa’s three sons, Aidan – who was 13 at the time – kayaked 200km from Hungerford to Bristol and back, raising a phenomenal £6,000 for Brain Tumour Research. And last month, Simon, his sons and their partners, as well as Lisa’s parents, took part in the Charity’s annual Walk of Hope at Chatsworth House.
“The Walk of Hope was a lovely opportunity for us all to get together as a family and remember Lisa,” said Simon. “It’s not just the individual you lose. It’s the ramifications of that loss and the ripples that are felt by everyone who loves them, so the more we can do to bring attention to this disease the better.”
You can help us fund the fight by donating to us via Simon’s JustGiving page.
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Published Tuesday 22nd October 2024.