A pregnant woman who was diagnosed with a fast-growing brain tumour said she knew something was wrong when she woke up and couldn't move her toes.
Laura Mahon said she first thought the sensation was down to her baby pressing against a nerve, the Liverpool Echo reports. But scans later revealed that the 30-year-old had glioblastoma - a grade four brain tumour.
Doctors then tragically told her it was inoperable. Laura, from St Helens, said she was 20 weeks pregnant with her daughter when she first felt the unusual symptom.
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She said in September 2021, she woke up and couldn't move her toes. She was sent to The Walton Centre for an MRI scan of her back.
After it came back clear, Laura was sent for another MRI scan on her brain. Laura said: "I was told the devastating news that I had a brain tumour.
"They told me it had more than likely been there for years and years and had now started growing. It was such a shock - I was only 29 and didn't think something like this could happen to me."
Laura was diagnosed with glioblastoma and suddenly became very ill when she was 27 weeks pregnant. She and husband Danny, 29, made the 'toughest decision of their lives' and opted to bring their daughter into the world at 30 weeks.
The couple's daughter Siena Grace Laura was born on November 30, 2021, weighing just 3.4lbs at Warrington Hospital. Siena was taken to the neonatal ward and placed in an incubator. Sienna developed pneumothorax - a collapsed lung - so was rushed to the Royal Oldham Hospital to receive specialised care.
Despite her own health battle, Laura discharged herself from hospital to be with Sienna. But on December 9, a new MRI revealed Laura's tumour had nearly doubled in size.
The young family were dealt the devastating blow when they heard the tumour was inoperable because it was on her motor cortex and could not be removed safely. Laura said: "Being told at 29 that you have inoperable stage four brain cancer and have just two years to live is something you can never prepare yourself for. Hearing that said out loud was a moment I'll never forget."
Laura said she wants to raise more awareness of the brain cancer, praising the portrayal of the illness in the current EastEnders story. She said although it has triggered a lot of difficult emotions she was 'delighted' with the high-profile storyline.
She said: "It's sad to watch what is happening to Lola Pearce because it is so close to my story. It all came flooding back when Lola was told she had a brain tumour, how it was such a massive shock, and then the sitting in hospital and waiting for results.
"Danielle Harold plays the role so well, it's scarily accurate. I talk about the storyline with my husband Danny and my parents. My mum got upset while watching it, but it's so important to raise awareness because people don't understand how quickly brain tumours change people's lives."
Laura has just completed six months of chemotherapy and her most recent scan showed the tumour was stable and had even shrunk a bit. The 30-year-old, who is being supported Brain Tumour Research, said her family are now looking forward to celebrating Sienna's first birthday.
Laura said: "It will be so lovely. Sienna is doing great and she has just started nursery which she is loving. It's so nice to see her developing and she's now trying to walk.
"I see others with glioblastoma who manage to live longer, so I am clinging to the idea that I might be one of those people. I'm fighting as hard as I can and I'm staying strong for my family."
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