A mum-to-be was told she had a deadly disease growing inside her at 20 weeks pregnant.
Laura Elizabeth Mahon, from St Helens, first realised something was wrong when she woke up and couldn't move her toes. Laura, who was 20 weeks pregnant at the time, went to see her GP who believed her baby was pressing against a nerve.
She was referred to The Walton Centre for an MRI scan of her back, but when the results came back clear she was sent for another MRI scan on her brain to make sure everything was OK.
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In an interview earlier this year, 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’m only 29 and didn’t think something like this could happen to me. I was so focused on the baby, but I was getting more poorly.”
Laura, now aged 30, shared her harrowing story at the launch of the North West Imaging Academy's (NWIA) new Radiology Academy at Edge Hill University, which aims to transform the NHS imaging workforce. The 30-year-old officially opened the new academy with her husband and fellow charity campaigner Daniel.
Laura, who is being supported by Brain Tumour Research, was diagnosed with glioblastoma - a fast growing grade four brain tumour - while pregnant with her daughter Sienna. When she suddenly became extremely unwell at 27 weeks pregnant, Laura and her husband Danny made the difficult decision to bring their baby into the world at 30 weeks.
Sienna Grace Laura Mahon was born at Warrington Hospital on November 30 last year, weighing just 3.4lbs. Sienna was taken to the neonatal ward and placed in an incubator, but after suffering from a collapsed lung she was transferred to Royal Oldham Hospital to receive more specialised care.
Despite her own health battle, Laura discharged herself from hospital to be with Sienna. On December 9 last year, a new MRI revealed Laura's tumour had nearly doubled in size and she was told it was now inoperable.
After receiving the results of her biopsy on December 22, Laura was told the devastating news she had just two years left to live. Due to her prognosis, Laura and Danny, who had got engaged in April last year, decided to get married on January 6.
Laura said: “Danny and I had prepared ourselves for the worst. We knew deep down what it was going to be but being told at 29 years old that you have inoperable stage 4 brain cancer and that I had just two years to live is something you can never prepare yourself for. Hearing that said out loud was a moment we’ll never forget.
“It felt so surreal, like I was living two separate lives. Things all looked fine, like we were a happy family, then I would remember how poorly I am. But it’s so special having Sienna with us, it’s like what we had originally envisaged.”
At the start of April, an MRI scan showed Laura's brain tumour had stabilised, and had even shrunk a bit. Laura’s health is improving but she will continue to have regular MRI scans to monitor the now stable tumour.
Speaking at the launch of the NWIA'S new Radiology Academy, Laura said: "It was an honour to officially open the new academy. My daughter Sienna and I are both doing well now but I know that without scanning and imaging my tumour wouldn’t have been found.”
The new training academy at Edge Hill University will improve patient access to high quality imaging tests such as x-rays and ultrasounds, drive earlier diagnosis and reduce health inequalities across the North West. The NWIA will train future sonographers, radiographers, imaging support workers, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and consultant radiologists.
Laura said: "It is vital to have places like this so that healthcare workers can get the best education possible. It’s amazing to know that the people who are trained here will go on to care for people like me in the future.”
Christopher Cutts, Regional Director for HEE in the North West, said: “This is a game changer, a whole new approach to transform how the imaging workforce is trained, increasing the number of staff and supporting them to stay in their professions.
“The academy is an incredible army of people who share one ambition – to provide better care for our patients.”
Julie-Michelle Bridson, Director of the Training Hub at Edge Hill, said: “The establishment of the Academy provides a unique opportunity to enhance the imaging workforce in the North West. The offer is truly multi-professional and will deliver high quality education and training for many professions, the aim being to improve diagnostic services to patients.”
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