Stephen’s story
My dad was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumour in March 2012. The news was absolutely devastating to everyone who knew and cared about him. Steve, as he liked to be called, was extremely fit and healthy and had his own business with Kleeneze.
He was devoted to his two daughters Emily and Kate and also his sons, Paul and Michael. Even more so to his partner, my mam, Sheila.
My dad didn’t show any symptoms what so ever to suggest that he had anything seriously wrong. In March 2012 he couldn’t get out of bed so my grandad took him to a&e, he was then immediately rushed to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle to have surgery.
After the surgery, he started his treatment and showed improvements and continued to lead a pretty normal life. Making memories with the people who loved him the most. He spent his last christmas with my sister, my mam and I. Just the four of us and it was the perfect christmas. Not long after that he started to deteriorate again and we were given the devastating news that the treatment had stopped working and that there was nothing more that could be done.
“A true gentleman, a great guy, inspiring, a lovely man… Those are just a few words used to describe my dad”
My dad tried his hardest but it was too much for him. About seven weeks before he passed away he spent a week in St Benedicts Hospice in Sunderland. They do amazing work there but he just wanted to be at home. The last six weeks of his life was spent at home and he received care from my mam, my sister, an amazing Macmillan nurse called Wendy and I. It was the hardest six weeks of our lives seeing him disappear.
He battled right until the end with determination, he wouldn’t give in and he was the one who kept us all positive. He was a true fighter.
He passed away on June 21st 2013 with his family by his side.
He will always be remembered with fond memories by everyone who knew him. He was our hero and always will be.
I unfortunately didn’t know about this wonderful charity until earlier this year (2014) when I was researching charities, as I am doing the Bupa Great North Run and wanted to raise money for a charity working with brain tumours, so I set up this fund in my dad’s memory.
We hope to raise as much money as possible and hopefully find a cure one day.