A WOMAN who was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour when she was 20 weeks pregnant says the support from the community is fantastic after sharing her story.
Laura Elizabeth Mahon, 29, from Lea Green, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour in September 2021.
Laura and her husband, Danny, 28, first realised something was wrong when she woke up at 20 weeks pregnant and couldn’t move her toes.
Doctors originally believed the baby was pressing on a nerve but she was sent to The Walton Centre for an MRI scan – which led to the discovery of the tumour.
Laura became very unwell when she was 27 weeks pregnant.
She and her husband Danny, 29, made the “toughest decision of their lives” and opted to bring their daughter into the world at 30 weeks.
On 30 November 2021, Sienna Grace Laura Mahon was born, weighing just 3.4lbs, at Warrington Hospital.
She was taken to the neonatal ward and placed in an incubator. Sienna developed pneumothorax - a collapsed lung – so was transferred to Royal Oldham Hospital to receive specialised care.
Despite not being well enough, Laura discharged herself from Warrington Hospital to be with Sienna.
Sienna is now doing great and at home with her devoted parents, and Laura is undergoing any treatment possible to try and give her the best chance of fighting the inoperable tumour.
Speaking to the Star, Laura, who is on a two-week break between her chemotherapy treatments, said: “I had a scan in December and the results in January showed regrowth which isn’t great.
“I’ve just finished a course of chemotherapy treatment and will be going back on to another course in two weeks, it’s made me quite poorly actually I ended up having a seizure and had an emergency MRI scan.
“Sienna and Danny as well as my parents and Danny’s parents keep me going I am so lucky with the support I have, but the community support has been incredible too.
“People are really kind getting in touch and sending their support, just makes you feel good to know there are such kind people in the world.
“It’s shocking that there is no further treatment on brain tumours to what was around 40 years ago, it’s not right that such a small percentage of funding goes towards Brain Tumour Research, which is why we’re raising money for Brain Tumour Research so hopefully new treatments can be found or even maybe, one day, a cure.”
To donate to Laura’s fundraising page, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/lauraelizabethmahon
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