Louise Chambers was living a healthy life.
Just months ago, the mum-of-two worked as a carer for a five-year-old boy who has brain damage, whilst living with her partner of three years and visiting her grown-up sons, aged 21 and 24. However, at the end of February, her life changed forever when she noticed things weren't quite right during a family holiday to Lincoln, LancsLive reports.
As she was driving her left leg "felt a bit heavy on the clutch", which felt like she was suffering with a painful cramp, she said. As a result, she returned home a day early and rang the doctors on the way, where she got an appointment straight away.
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Recounting her symptoms, the medical experts assumed Louise had just suffered from a 'mini stroke' and was therefore transferred to the hospital. Two days later on a Sunday, she had a full MRI scan, which showed what was really going on.
The 43-year-old from Preston told LancsLive: "They told me on the Tuesday that it wasn't a mini stroke, I had a brain tumour. They said it was one of the worst types you can have as it's terminal and they said I had up to 12 months.
"That was it. They said there was nothing really that can be done for it."
Louise was told she only had a year to live as protocol, due to the fact her condition is inoperable and has been advised to live her life to the fullest and not take it as an exact timeframe.
"It was a bit surreal, I didn't really believe it," Louise recalls after being told of her prognosis. "I still don't, I don't think. I still don't really believe. The only time I really got upset was telling my boys and telling my mum and my best friend.
"They were the people that when I was talking to them, it made me upset. Whereas with everyone else, I was telling them a bit more matter of fact, if you will."
At the beginning of March, Louise was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma, which is a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumour. At the end of the month, doctors ran a biopsy to better understand her condition and Louise is still waiting on some of the results of the tests.
However, she was told they couldn't remove her tumour because of its location. Louise added: "They said they couldn't operate, because of where the tumour is and what it is. It's on my spinal cord so they said it's not safe to operate, if they were to operate I would end up in a wheelchair and I wouldn't know where I was or who anybody else was.
"I wouldn't be able to feed myself or use the toilet, I'd lose all of those faculties." Doctors did give Louise six weeks of radiotherapy and six weeks of chemotherapy, which is administered as an oral tablet.
Before she could start these, Louise was taken to hospital for a week where doctors had to reduce the swelling around her tumour. However, she says she's been fine since then and has now completed three weeks of radiotherapy and three weeks of chemotherapy.
"I've not been sick or anything, I've not had any real side effects," Louise continued. "I've lost a little bit of hair but nothing dramatic.
"But now they've stopped the radiotherapy and the chemotherapy until July." Now, Louise is off work and being given statutory sick pay whilst she is making the most of family time and putting together as much money as she can for her future and for her family.
To raise funds, Louise's friends have managed to put together several fundraisers which have raised nearly £2,000 collectively so far. This includes a five-hour dance exercise class called Dance X - Exercise in Disguise at St Anthony's Social Centre in Fulwood which has raised just over £850.
Louise has also hosted a raffle and a cake sale which raised over £1,000 altogether. She's also got another dance event next Sunday, June 25 which will be a three-hour marathon, as well as another raffle and cake sale.
On July 1, there will also be darts night in Lea, a Peaky Blinders night at Tulketh Tap Room in September and an 80s night at Chorley football club on October 21, which will allow attendees to enjoy their night and a hotpot supper for £20.
You can donate to help support Louise and her family by visiting her Go Fund Me page.
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