A Scots teenager who can't feel the top to her head after undergoing surgery says her 'constantly growing' brain tumour is 'getting in the way of her dream job'.
Molly Whitelaw, 18, from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with the tumour in January 2021 after her optician couldn’t see the back of her eye during a routine check-up. He sent her straight to T he Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
A CT scan revealed a mass on her brain which was swollen. Molly was sent to the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People for an MRI scan which confirmed she had a brain tumour.
The student who is currently studying childhood practice at Edinburgh College, said: “Since my diagnosis, scans show my tumour has been constantly growing and I’m really concerned because I may need to have surgery again.
"It’s the height of assessment season and I don’t want to miss anything. I’m at college training for my dream job of working with nursery school children but my brain is getting in the way.”
When she was younger, Molly had a squint in her eye but it “started turning out again” in January 2021. That's when she went to her optician.
Molly said: “I instantly thought of cancer and it really scared me. I had an operation which went well but since then, I haven’t been able to feel the top of my head because of damage to a nerve ending, it’s really weird.
“I finish my course at the end of May. I’m currently doing a placement at Busy Bees Nursery in Broughton, I love it and hope to work there. I get dizziness quite often and really bad migraines but I’ve got medication which gets rid of it.”
Despite her health challenges Molly is taking on the Jog 26.2 Miles in May Challenge , to raise vital funds for the charity Brain Tumour Research.
Molly said: “This is a big challenge for me, but I am determined to raise awareness of this disease. I want to raise money to help fund research because it will help others, and hopefully me, in the future. I just want to get better.”
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: “We’re really grateful to Molly for taking on the Jog 26.2 miles in May challenge as it’s only with the support of people like her that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like her who are forced to fight this awful disease.”
The Jog 26.2 Miles in May challenge, which is now in its third year, raises vital funds to help find a cure for brain tumours. Participants are asked to sign up via Facebook or JustGiving www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/jog-26.2-miles-in-may.
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