Catherine’s story
My beautiful fiancée Catherine was a caring, adventurous and extremely talented person who lived life to the max. A real ray of sunshine. From playing netball for Wales all over the world to backpacking in Australia and Asia, she really loved life and everything it had to offer. She would always say, “put your positive pants on” and that’s how she stayed throughout everything, even after the devastating diagnosis we received of her having a Stage 4 GBM (glioblastoma) in April 2018.
Our world came crashing down around us whilst Catherine and I were travelling in New Zealand. We were living the dream travelling in our campervan, just two 27 year olds hopelessly in love planning the rest of our lives together.
Catherine had complained of a
severe headache and vomiting for 3 days in March, 2018, after which we went to the local GP who thought it may have been low iron or a cluster headache. Catherine was very passionate about fitness and nutrition, everything you’re told that gives you a longer life she did, so we didn’t think much more of it.
A week later whilst we were on a bike ride around beautiful Queenstown, Catherine became very confused which set off alarm bells. Following another visit to the GP, referral for a CT scan and hospital referral, came the devastating news that she had a tumour in her brain. My heart shattered. It shattered even more when I had to break this awful news to her family back in Wales, telling her Mam, Dad, brother and sister that Catherine had Brain Cancer. Catherine was still her optimistic self, “Everything will be fine.”
Her Mam and Dad booked the first flight out to New Zealand to be by her side whilst she underwent a Craniotomy to try and de-bulk the tumour. Then came another blow. She had a Stage 4 GBM, the most aggressive form of brain tumour.
We flew home at the end of April 2018, Catherine still being her positive wonderful self, was keen to have the Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy that Velindre Hospital offered, however she rapidly declined until she was taken in to hospital and passed away with her Mam and I holding each hand not wanting to let our girl go, on the 23rd of May, 2018.
Catherine was never given a definite prognosis, but from the first headadche to her passing it was only 3 MONTHS. Our lives will never be the same again. However together we can make a difference by fundraising for more research to be done in to high grade brain tumours. We don’t want families to go through the horrible journey that so many of us have.
Thank you for reading Catherine’s story and I hope you will be able to support us in our mission. ‘A Cure Can’t Wait.’
Bryony xx