'I want to help others after my brain surgery’
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A MOTHER-OF-TWO diagnosed with a brain tumour just before Christmas is getting set to do her bit for charity - in full recovery mode.
Jen Bain (27) from Cradlehall, Inverness suffered more than a year of horrendous headaches and migraines before being finally diagnosed with a grade two atypical meningioma last November.
She was rushed to surgery in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary just days later, on December 12, where she had to endure a six-hour operation.
Thankfully that ended with the good news that her tumour was benign.
However, as it is a type rarely seen in someone so young she will still be subject to intense monitoring for months to come, to make sure any recurrence is caught as quickly as possible.
“I have had issues with infections and healing since the original operation, but I’m taking each day as it comes,” she said.
Mum to six-year-old Liam and baby Rhys, aged one, coming through the operation and its aftermath has been tough for the whole family, she added, including partner Martin Bowie.
“It’s been very difficult from getting the diagnosis not long before Christmas and then going in for surgery,” she said.
“The fact that I had to go to Aberdeen and be without my children while not even knowing if I was going to come through this okay was all extremely tough.
“But the care I got from staff at the hospital was incredible.
“I don’t even have words for how good it was.
“From before I went into surgery to being in intensive care and then high dependency afterwards it was just fantastic and I am so grateful for everything they did.”
That experience has left Miss Bain determined to do what she can to help others going through a similar situation and on June 30 she is set to have her head shaved in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity.
“I thought about doing something to give back to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary directly but feel I’d like to do that on a bigger scale, possibly with a sponsored run when I’m better,” she said.
“Having my head shaved seemed like something relatively easy to do and supporting this charity is obviously very close to my heart now.
“To help out people who find themselves in the same situation would be great.
“When I went down for surgery I was a little bit nervous about how much of my hair they would have to take off for the operation but now I’ve got no worries at all and no second thoughts about having it shaved off.
“In the scheme of things it’s not a big deal and I know that it will eventually grow back anyway.
“It’s more important to help a good cause and show everyone that good things can come out of something really bad.”
Contributions to Jen Bain's fundraising appeal can be made via her Justgiving page online.
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