From the beginning...

My name’s Beth. I’m 20 years old and from Anglesey in North Wales. I used to be a singer, played piano, guitar – and lived for songwriting and performing. I was studying Music Industry at Cardiff Atrium University and was looking forward to the future.

In July 2014, I was hit by a debilitating rare Brain Tumour in the Pineal Gland of my brain.

I didn’t have much of a reaction when I was told to be honest and if you ask me, I still don’t think its really hit me the severity of the situation! People always expect that I cried and panicked when I was told, but I just felt emotionless.

I now suffer from extreme fatigue, blinding headaches and pain behind my eyes, I can’t be out in the sun because it’s too painful so I constantly wear sunglasses – indoors or outdoors, nausea, anxiety, mood swings – I know girls are always moody but mine are a bit extreme ha! – nosebleeds, upper body stiffness pain and numbness and a couple of other things.

But the thing that changed my life the most was when I lost the ability to walk. I am now wheelchair bound.

It has been a hard road with lots of mis-diagnosis – it took 3 MRI scans and a CT scan to even find the tumour in the first place! Many doctors shrug it off because of how rare it is to have symptoms from a tumour in the Pineal Gland. Most people don’t suffer at all! I’m one of the unlucky ones I guess.

Doctors in the UK struggle to come to a decision about treatment as the risks can sometimes outweigh what may or may not be better after the surgery. It is classed as the most dangerous brain surgery there is because of it’s location – right in the middle of my brain.

However, medical professionals in the USA have found a new way to perform this surgery and are currently improving many peoples lives by removing their tumours and giving them their quality of life back. This is my goal!

I am currently trying to fundraise £150,000 to travel to Los Angeles, USA to the Skull Base Institute to hopefully have the tumour removed by Dr Hrayr Shahinian and people have been absolutely amazing. I have NEVER felt so lucky to live where I do with how the whole community have come together to try and help me reach my target! We have had so many donations on the YouCaring site and also money from Ice Bucket Challenges and just donations in general! So kind!

So far we have had 2 quiz nights at the Bull Hotel in Valley, a 33 mile run/bike ride on the island by 4 fantastic local men, a great bike ride done all the way from Llandudno to Holyhead, 2 charity football matches, a sponsored head shave by the managers at Morrisons and a psychic night held by the Barton’s. There are plenty more events in the pipeline coming up which I am so grateful for and can’t wait!

If you’re reading this and have donated or supported me in any way – I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life. Thank you so much.

Keep reading this blog for all updates on my condition and fundraising events and donations. xxx