In Our Hearts

 Alice Johnson, of Sheringham in Norfolk, was diagnosed with a high-grade ependymoma, aged three, in September 2001 after experiencing symptoms including tiredness, sensitivity to sounds, headaches and dizziness. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy after which she quickly regained strength and energy. However, over the following 21 years she endured a further five surgeries, chemotherapy and three courses of radiotherapy. Having exhausted all of her treatment options, she died in July 2022 at the age of 24.

Alison Blackwell, from Brighouse in West Yorkshire, spent many years working as a successful graphic designer and art director for a clothing catalogue before going into the millinery business with her husband, Joe. Joe’s long-established family tradition of working in the hat trade combined with Alison’s fashion background, eye for colour and design flair, meant the couple made the perfect team. However, tragedy struck in December 2021, when Alison was diagnosed with an aggressive, inoperable brain tumour. She died just four weeks later, on New Year’s Day 2022, leaving Joe and their 18-year-old daughter Libby devastated. 

We are grateful to Aman, and his brother Anoop, who worked with us in October 2021 to share his story here. Sadly, he passed away in December 2021. We remember Aman as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. He will be forever in our hearts.

Young father Aman Sumal had everything to look forward to when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour after suffering a seizure and headaches in August 2020. Initially, it was thought he had a low-grade tumour and he was given anti-seizure medication and referred for three-monthly scans. However, after having another seizure five months later, an MRI showed areas of concern and he underwent debulking surgery, with COVID-19 restrictions preventing anyone from being by his side. A biopsy of his tumour revealed that it was, in fact, a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and the 36-year-old, of Ruislip in West London, underwent chemotherapy and intensive radiotherapy while his family privately funded a protocol with a naturopath from Australia. Sadly, Aman has continued to deteriorate and, having now exhausted all his options on the NHS, his family have turned to crowdfunding to raise the money needed to pay for private immunotherapy treatment and specifically-formulated vaccines.

We are grateful to Amani and her father, Khuram, who worked with us in October 2020 to share her story here. Sadly, she passed away in February 2022. We remember Amani as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. She will be forever in our hearts.

The eldest of three sisters, Amani Liaquat was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour after collapsing at home on her 22^nd birthday in April 2020. The coronavirus lockdown meant she had to endure brain surgery and numerous scans with no visitors allowed at her bedside during a 12-day stay in hospital. After standard of care failed to stop the growth of her tumour the family were left in the difficult position of having to source lifesaving treatment from Germany. Thanks to the generosity of family, friends and complete strangers, over £100,000 was quickly raised to help finance this.

We are grateful to Amy who worked with us in May 2017 to share their story here. Sadly, she passed away in 2019. We remember Amy as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. She will be forever in our hearts.

Determined mum Amy Quin will mark the first anniversary of her brain tumour diagnosis by skydiving 15,000ft from a plane with her sisters. The trio are raising money for the charity Brain Tumour Research. With a prognosis of five to seven years, Amy is hopeful that research will help to identify new treatments which would mean her tumour is operable giving her precious time with her family including partner Lewis and their four-year-old son Hector.

We are grateful to Andi, and his aunt Deb, who worked with us in February 2022 to share his story here. Sadly, he passed away in January 2023. We remember Andi as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. He will be forever in our hearts.

Fit and healthy Andi Peel, 30, from Groby in Leicestershire, started getting headaches in August 2019. His GP said he had migraines but then Andi had an episode of confusion and a panic attack, and he couldn’t remember anything. He went to hospital but was told that it was just stress. In January 2020, Andi’s headaches became so severe that he returned to hospital and had an MRI scan which revealed he had a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour. The tumour was removed, and Andi underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but he has been told there is no other treatment available for him. He is now totally blind.

Andrew Atkinson-Whitton loved life. In his 37 years, he touched so many lives with his infectious smile and happy-go lucky nature. Andrew kept smiling even when he was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and had to undergo intensive surgery and treatment but the tumour was too aggressive. He died 20 July 2018, just 14 months after diagnosis, leaving his husband Carl, mum Jill and brother Robert.