According to Express, 22-year-old Rachael Burns began noticing changes in her vision after giving birth to her daughter, Raeya, who is now one year old. She had been suffering from migraines for years but avoided seeking medical help. It was only when the pain became unbearable and was accompanied by eye strain that the young mother decided to consult a doctor.
Rachael was diagnosed with dry eye and given medication. However, her condition worsened to the point where she couldn’t open one of her eyes, and her face became lopsided. She was then rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital.
An MRI scan revealed the presence of a high-grade cancerous tumor – diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) – that had spread down her spine. Rachael was given the devastating news that she only had a few months left to live.
Rachael Burns with her family. Image: Express
Speaking to Express, an emotional Rachael said, “When I was told I had a brain tumor, my world fell apart. I was told the average lifespan for someone with my condition is 12 months, and I’ve already had symptoms for eight months. I’m hoping to live for at least one or two years.”
Rachael first noticed her symptoms in March 2023 and has been bedridden for days at a time to reduce the pressure in her head.
Due to the tumor’s location in Rachael’s brain stem, surgery is not an option. Louise Aubrey, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, commented, “It is a tragedy that a young mother like Rachael cannot access the best drugs and treatments available in the UK and instead has to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for the chance to spend more time with her daughter.”
She warned, “Brain tumors kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002. This is unacceptable. More must be done to stop families like Rachael’s from being torn apart by this destructive disease.”
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