Kimberley Baggley, from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, initially didn’t think much of a migraine that saw her sent home from work.
Little did he know, this was the first sign that he had a life-threatening brain tumor.
The 27-year-old woman only became worried and began to feel “tingling” on the left side of her face later that day, and rushed to the emergency room. However, she claims she was sent with painkillers.
Four additional visitors over the course of the week complaining of the same feeling also got her fired, she said.
Then things took a dramatic turn when her husband returned home, after taking their son swimming, to discover the primary school teacher unconscious in bed after having a seizure.
Kimberley Baggley, from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, originally didn’t think much of a migraine that saw her sent home from work.
But when the 27-year-old started feeling “tingling” on the left side of her face later that day, she rushed to the emergency room, where she says she was sent with painkillers. Pictured is Kimberley with her husband Luke Baggley, 28, and their son George.
Returning to hospital with blue light, scans revealed he had astrocytoma, an aggressive brain tumor that affects around 4,500 Britons each year.
Despite surgery and 33 rounds of radiotherapy, he is still receiving chemotherapy to address the grade three tumour.
Recalling her terrifying experience, Mrs Baggley said: “You never think something like this is going to happen to you, but when it does your whole world revolves around something you know nothing about – it’s terrifying.”
‘Your life stops when you are diagnosed with a brain tumor.
‘There are many unknown things ahead and a long process that leaves other parts of your life on hold.
‘At that moment, your whole world collapses.
“My husband was terrified because he didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Astrocytomas are one of the most common forms of brain tumors, accounting for around a third of all cases of this cancer in the UK.
They grow from specific cells, called astrocytes, which protect the nerves and are vital for processing information.
Experts still don’t know what exactly causes astocytoma to develop, although scientists suspect there may be a genetic link.
Common symptoms include headaches, slurred speech, vision changes such as double or blurred vision, as well as seizures, confused thinking, and memory problems.
Astrocytomas are graded from one to four, depending on their severity and how they respond to treatment; three and four are considered high grade.
Only around a quarter of Britons diagnosed with high-grade astrocytoma live five years or more, according to The Brain Tumor Charity.
After suffering a seizure at home, Mrs Baggley had another while being transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Despite surgery and 33 rounds of radiotherapy, he is still receiving chemotherapy to address the grade three tumour.
After suffering a seizure at home, Mrs Baggley had another while being taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Doctors then performed surgery and removed 95 percent of the tumor, which was sent for testing to determine what type of cancer it was.
Mrs Baggley said: ‘I remember my doctor told me that it wasn’t the worst tumor, but it wasn’t the best tumor either, and that reassured me.
“I was quite naive when I was first diagnosed as I am a very positive person and always try to make the best of every situation.
“I thought I would have surgery and that would be it.”
However, a month after his first surgery, an infection forced him to undergo another operation to remove part of his skull.
Since then, he has also battled sepsis, which delayed the start of his cancer treatment.
“The person my diagnosis has affected the most is my husband,” Mrs Baggley said.
‘He has had to continue going to work while trying to care for me and our son.
‘He has taken on two roles and has been mum and dad for the past year.
However, a month after his first surgery, an infection forced him to undergo another to remove part of his skull.
Since then, he has also battled sepsis, which delayed the start of treatment. Pictured is Ms Baggley’s brain scan showing the tumor (light blue)
‘My little son found it difficult at first, one day he said: “Mom, are you going to die?” which was hard to hear.
“It’s affected them and my whole family, seeing someone you love go through something so horrible must be terrifying for them too.”
He added: “It’s time for things to change, for me and for everyone living with a brain tumor.” This is why research into more effective treatments is so urgently needed.’
Since her diagnosis, Mrs Baggley has abseiled down Anfield Stadium to raise £7,000 for The Brain Tumor Charity and has started a support group in Stoke-on-Trent to help other people diagnosed with cancer.
Dr Simon Newman, scientific director of The Brain Tumor Charity, which helps fund research into potential treatments, said: “High-grade brain tumors are some of the most devastating brain tumors and current treatments are simply not enough. good”.
“We hope that by understanding the immune system and how it responds to brain tumors, we can improve immunotherapy treatment options and achieve the same advances in brain tumors that we have seen in other cancers.”