Heather Sells

5 min read

Heather Sells, 46, from Clitheroe, was leading fitness classes at her local gym when she began experiencing dizziness, balance issues, and vision problems. After suffering seizures, she was eventually diagnosed with two brain tumours in October 2020 and underwent successful surgery for one. She continues to manage the effects, undergo annual scans, and has raised over £10,000 for Brain Tumour Research, dedicating herself to spreading awareness and supporting others facing similar challenges.


Heather tells her story…

Fitness and health have always been a big part of my life. It’s why I became a fitness instructor, to turn my passion into my job so it would never feel like work again. It felt great to help my community be healthier while also running my own business. But everything changed in April 2020.

I was teaching classes at the local gym as usual when I began experiencing dizziness, headaches, and blurred vision. Thinking it might be a vision problem, I booked an appointment with the optician. Unfortunately, due to COVID lockdowns, my appointment was cancelled because of travel restrictions.

Looking back, I believe that if I had that optician’s appointment, they may have seen something wrong when looking through my eyes.

The following month, while at home in lockdown, I was struck by a full tonic-clonic seizure. Not knowing what was happening, I initially thought I was having a heart attack due to the intense pressure running down my entire left side. I couldn’t move my head, which was twisted to the left, and although I wasn’t aware of it at the time, my arm lifted into the air.

I was on a FaceTime call with my eldest son, Elliott, and his wife when they noticed something was wrong as I was just staring off into the distance. I dropped the phone and had only seconds to signal that I needed help before blacking out. My husband, Jack, managed to catch me and carry me to the sofa, where I began to convulse and foam at the mouth. He immediately called an ambulance. Fortunately, our younger son, Hunter, was in bed, unaware of the chaos unfolding.

My visit to Blackburn Hospital was quick, all they did was send me home with a seizure leaflet. As it was during the height of COVID lockdowns, they didn’t see it as a major concern. About six weeks later, another seizure hit, and I knew what was happening straight away. I was put on the MRI waitlist, but it wasn’t until September 2020 that I went to Preston Hospital for the scan.

This was all possible because I knew a skin specialist nurse in 2017 from when I had skin cancer. She was able to push me higher up the list, and within a week, I was scheduled for an MRI.

On my way to the hospital, I could physically feel something in my head. I knew that if anything was wrong, it had to be there. That’s where the headaches were coming from, and that’s where I felt strange, random movements.

In October 2020, the doctor called with my diagnosis, a low-grade meningioma.

I received a bigger shock when the doctor said I actually had two brain tumours growing inside my head.

However, he reassured me that they were only concerned about one for now.

The thought of surgery terrified me, especially since COVID restrictions meant Jack couldn’t accompany me into the hospital. We both sobbed into our masks as I left him at the door. I then sat in a small side room alone for five hours, pacing around and visiting the loo countless times before finally being taken for the operation.

Thankfully, the surgery was successful. The tumour removed was about 3 cm in size, surrounded by a significant amount of fluid, which had been causing additional complications. The pressure had shifted the midline of my brain, and because the tumour was in my right frontal lobe, it had compressed the surrounding area. Although the space never fully recovered, I’ve adapted which is why I often wear hats, even indoors.

Changes in weather, particularly shifts in atmospheric pressure, affect me greatly. I can often sense the pressure change before even looking outside which is a bizarre sensation. Along with managing daily fatigue and the reality of never being able to drive again, these are challenges I’ve learned to live with.

I was alone in the hospital for three days because of COVID restrictions. Once I could use the toilet on my own, I was thrilled to leave.

Now, one tumour is gone, and the other remains under active surveillance with annual MRI scans. While doctors say everything is stable, I prefer to see the results for myself for peace of mind. I always request copies of my scans and notes rather than relying solely on their assessments.

Going in for scans is nerve-wracking, so I have little quirks to keep me calm. One is a small mirror I use to look out of the machine during the scan - I panic if I don’t have it with me. The hospital staff are incredibly supportive and ensure I always have my scans at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, where I’m familiar with the machines and the team. The hardest part is dealing with the unknown and the anxiety over results, but I live in hope that the tumour remains unchanged.

Now, I dedicate myself to fundraising for Brain Tumour Research and raising awareness. I know first-hand how devastating this disease is, not just for those diagnosed but for their loved ones too. I regularly bring my family and friends together for charity challenges like 10,000 Steps a Day in February and 99 Miles in November.

So far, we’ve raised over £10,000 for Brain Tumour Research and we have no plans to stop anytime soon.

My advice to anyone going through a similar experience is to be kind to yourself and take each day one step at a time. It is a rollercoaster journey. I went from being fit and active to feeling like I had lost everything. Physically and mentally, it has been the hardest time of my life, but the support from my husband, family, and friends has been invaluable. Accept all the help offered. I know it’s easier said than done. My husband still reminds me of these things. Even four years on, I still don’t listen but I try!

Talk, cry, and laugh. You would not believe how much laughter there has been, even in our darkest times. I also found incredible support through a specific Facebook group for my type of tumours. That community has provided me with more advice than anywhere else, and they are my first port of call with any questions. Now, I hope I am giving back by offering advice and understanding to others on their journeys. I have made so many brain tumour warrior friends through this group.

Never give up hope. I am still living and loving life. Stay focused on the positives, no matter what stage of your journey you are in. 

My favourite quote is:

"Fate whispers to the warrior, 'You cannot withstand the storm.'
The warrior whispers back, 'I am the storm.'"

Love, light, strength, and healing to all those enduring this life-changing diagnosis.

 

Heather Sells

January 2025

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 Heather’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.

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