The family of a man who died of a brain tumour revealed it was diagnosed after he watched Channel 4's '24 Hours in A&E'.
Glenn Farley and his wife, Thomasina, 54, were concerned he may have suffered a stroke after he began experiencing drop foot syndrome - a condition which affects foot and toe mobility causing him to drag his leg as he walked.
They phoned the doctors' out of hours who urged Glenn to go to A&E.
A scan of his body from the neck down did not find anything untoward, but he was kept overnight for monitoring.
Upon returning home the next day, Glenn suffered from multiple seizures.
After watching Channel 4's '24 Hours in A&E', Glenn mentioned to his wife about a brain tumour patient and how he had been experiencing the same symptoms - prompting the couple to return to the hospital.
A scan of Glenn's head revealed he had a fast-growing brain tumour.
Mr Farley, from Newport in South Wales, was only 51 when he passed away in November 2019 - 19 months after being diagnosed with the brain tumour which turned out to be an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
Glenn, a steelworker, was affectionally known as 'Granchie Glenn' by his grandchildren.
He is now the inspiration behind his family's 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge.
Thomasina said: “I’m not very good at watching anything medical on TV as it makes me squeamish.
"After Glenn mentioned about the patient on 24 Hours in A&E, we went straight to the hospital, instead of phoning the doctor.
“It was incredibly shocking to hear the diagnosis and we were told that the average survival rate for someone with a GBM is just 12-18 months.
"We were heartbroken.”
Surgeons at Heath Hospital in Cardiff removed most of the tumour in March 2018, during which time a further two tumours were discovered and monitored for any changes.
Over the next nine months, Glenn underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment - successfully reducing the size of the GBM.
However, the operation left Glenn in a wheelchair, and doctors thought he may never walk again.
After months of physiotherapy, the father-of-two walked unaided, and in July 2019, he walked his daughter Katie, 31, down the aisle.
While awaiting a knee operation a month later, Glenn experienced chest pain and when he woke up the next morning he fell to the ground having lost the use of his legs.
He was taken to Royal Gwent Hospital, where doctors were unable to determine the cause of why his legs stopped working.
At the same time he was awaiting his latest scan results and after a phone call to the Velindre Cancer Centre, Glenn discovered the cancer had spread to his spinal cord.
After two weeks of radiotherapy on his spine, he was referred back to Gwent Hospital where he caught sepsis three times and was eventually discharged to receive palliative care at home.
Mr Farley died surrounded by his family on 16 November, the same day as his son, Luke, marked his 33rd birthday.
Thomasina said: “Whilst Glenn was at home he had lots of visitors from work, plus friends and family who brought with them such positivity.
"We had a flag made with his picture on and his friends, Gary and Darren still take it to every Newport County home game to remember him, that shows you how loved he was."
Four years after he was first diagnosed with the disease, Thomasina and their eldest granddaughter, Maisie, are walking 10,000 steps every day in February in memory of their beloved ‘Granchie Glenn’ to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
Thomasina took part in the event for the first time last year and raised more than £1,000 for the charity. This year she is hoping to raise even more.
Thomasina said: “Maisie and I have been loving the challenge so far, with all of our family cheering us on.
"Glenn would have loved it and I know he’d be very proud of what we were doing to help other families going through something similar.”
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