A woman whose migraines stopped after her twin was diagnosed with a brain tumour said she has "always had this kind of twin thing" with her sister. Hilary Stockton was 18 when she began suffering with painful headaches and a change in vision.
At the same time, her identical twin, Hayley, was also suffering with migraines. Hilary went for an eye test and was referred to HM Stanley Eye Hospital in Abergele and was sent on to Glan Clwyd Hospital A&E in Rhyl, where a scan showed a mass on her brain.
She was diagnosed with a low-grade tumour diagnosed a month before her 19th birthday on December 27, 1993. The next day she had an operation at the Walton Centre in Liverpool to remove the tumour, and once out of surgery both Hilary’s and Hayley’s migraines stopped.
Hayley, now 47 and a full-time carer, said: “We’ve always had this kind of twin thing, be it through life’s milestones or sensing when one of us might be feeling a certain way.”
Inspired by her sister, Hayley is taking on a 100 Squats or Star Jumps a day in November Challenge for Brain Tumour Research. Ever in sync, the sisters also fell pregnant at the same time. When Hilary, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, underwent brain surgery, it came with the added risk of losing her unborn baby.
Hayley said: “We were all so worried about Hilary. We were given terrifying statistics indicating she, or the baby, may not make it out of surgery. It was a traumatic time for the whole family.”
Fortunately, Hilary’s surgery was a success, and the sisters went on to give birth to healthy babies just two weeks apart - Hayley's son Jordan, 29, born November 1, 1993, and Hilary's daughter Shona, born November 16, 1993.
Hilary said: “I have a check-up every couple of years and although I suffer from tunnel vision, I am able to live life without any limitations. My sister and I have always been close and I’m proud of Hayley for taking on this challenge for Brain Tumour Research and I’ll certainly be cheering her on throughout the month.”
Mel Tiley, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re grateful to Hayley for taking part in the 100 Squats or Star Jumps a Day in November Challenge. Her sister’s story demonstrates how brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours. This must change and with the support of people like Hayley we can work towards better treatment options and eventually, a cure.”
To donate, visit Hayley's JustGiving page.
