In September 2018, our beautiful Laura began her first term at King’s College London where she was studying International Relations. She was just getting to grips with student life when she started to experience persistent headaches.

 

A routine eye test showed unexpected swelling behind her eyes and Laura was sent for further tests at Moorfield Eye Hospital. The next day, she became really unwell with sickness and a severe headache, we rushed to be by her side and took her to hospital where she was sent for a CT scan.

 

Laura was diagnosed with multiple brain tumours and our lives changed forever. Six weeks after starting university, we faced the heartbreaking task of bringing her home. 

 

Laura had urgent brain surgery at Salford Royal, and a week later, our worst fears were confirmed: Laura had Diffuse Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive Stage 4 brain cancer with a devastating prognosis of twelve months.

 

She endured six weeks of radiotherapy, a year of chemotherapy, and we raised funds for additional treatments, including immunotherapy in Germany. Laura faced each day with extraordinary courage and was determined to make the most of whatever time she had left - a conscious decision to make every moment count.

 

Laura created a bucket list, and thanks to the wonderful generosity of strangers was able to tick off some unforgettable moments, including a safari in South Africa, fishing with Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse, visiting the Heinz Beans factory, meeting Michelle Obama, and driving every vehicle she possibly could, including a digger, London Tube train, monster truck, tractor, and even piloting a helicopter.

 

Although her surgeon had initially told her it was impossible, Laura typically defied expectations and resumed her studies at the University of Manchester. We were so proud to see her graduate with a 2:1 in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

 

Laura fought incredibly hard but treatment only held the cancer back for so long and the tumour regrew, leading to further craniotomies in March and December 2021 and her final surgery in October 2022, just days after she completed the Great North Run - this was followed by a further course radiotherapy.

 

We were told at this point that Laura had very little time left, utterly heartbroken with such a bleak prognosis, we brought Christmas forward  by six weeks and had a wonderful bittersweet family celebration.

But once again, Laura defied expectations and remained well until Easter 2023 when her condition began to deteriorate.

 

Laura died at home on the 22nd May 2023, surrounded by love, with her mum- Nicola, dad- Mark, and sister- Gracie by her side.

 

We miss Laura so very much, she’s part of everything we are doing now and as a family, we will continue her fight to improve treatments until we turn glioblastoma from terminal to treatable.