A special educational needs and disabilities (Send) PE teacher who thought she “might die” after being diagnosed with a “satsuma-sized” brain tumour which has left her blind in one eye has since won a bronze triathlon medal in Poland, competing for Great Britain, and been nominated for a prestigious Pearson National Teaching Award. Rachel Bown, 52 said her life has “never been the same” since being told she had a large, non-cancerous brain tumour in 2014 – but she chooses to “live for today” and enjoy every moment, as “tomorrow is never promised”.
She underwent two craniotomies in 2014 and 2015, the surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull, to remove as much of the tumour as possible, along with 30 sessions of radiotherapy in 2017, which left her fatigued, nauseous, and with “ulcerated” sinuses. As a result of her surgeries, Rachel said she “looks very different” now; she is blind in her right eye, has to “manoeuvre (herself) differently” due to her reduced vision, she struggles with her balance, and has “no feeling” on the right side of her face as a result of nerve damage. However, despite these life-changing impacts, Rachel has gone on to do “amazing things” since her diagnosis – running the London Marathon in 2016 dressed as Mr Hippo, raising thousands of pounds for charity, and competing internationally in triathlon events for Great Britain.
Moreover, through her work as a PE teacher, supporting children with disabilities through physical activity, she has been nominated for a Further Education Lecturer of the Year award, demonstrating to her students what is possible in the face of adversity. “My life has never been the same since that Wednesday afternoon, but I have to say, I have never wondered why, and I’ve never thought my life is worse,” she said.
