The Brain Charity

When Lisa was diagnosed with a stage 4 glioblastoma in 2024, her life changed overnight.

After decades of working in schools, supporting children and families in a range of roles, including helping students access free school meals, Lisa was forced to retire. She also had to give up her driving licence, losing much of the independence that had always been important to her.

Her diagnosis came as a complete shock. While out walking her dog with her daughter, Lisa experienced what she thought was a stroke. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered a brain tumour, cancerous masses in her stomach and severe swelling on her brain, known as encephalitis.

She spent six weeks in hospital and underwent major surgery at The Walton Centre. Doctors warned that, because of the location of the tumour, there was a chance she may not wake up after the operation, could lose sensation on one side of her body or require a wheelchair.

Thankfully, due to the expertise of her surgical team, Lisa experienced no traumatic complications, though she does still experience significant ongoing post surgery symptoms like speech problems, memory loss and extreme fatigue.

She later underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which she describes as a very harsh experience. Throughout her treatment, Lisa worked hard to maintain her independence, travelling by bus to and from her appointments whenever she could.

Lisa Said:

“I wanted to keep doing things for myself. I didn’t want my diagnosis to take away everything that made me who I am.”

Finding support after diagnosis 

Before her diagnosis, Lisa had no indication that anything serious was wrong. Looking back, she remembers small things that now seem significant, such as struggling to read, missing parts of emails she was writing and noticing that when she threw a ball for her dog, it sometimes wouldn’t leave her hand. 

At the time, she put these changes down to getting older and menopause. She never imagined they could be signs of something much more serious. 

After her diagnosis, Lisa received incredible support from her family and friends. Her daughter was just 16 when she received the news, and her first brain surgery took place on the same day as her daughter’s first GCSE exam. Despite the difficult circumstances, her daughter persevered and passed all her exams. 

When her daughter’s prom took place while Lisa was still in the hospital, her friends came together to make sure she had a dress and could enjoy the special occasion. 

Lisa said: 

“Having an illness like this shows you who your friends are. I had so many people around me who wanted to help and support us.” 

Starting a new chapter at The Brain Charity 

While recovering, Lisa found out about The Brain Charity through one of the organisation’s flyers and decided to give the centre a try. 

At the time, she was struggling with mobility after surgery and wanted to find a gentle way to begin rebuilding her strength. She started with chair yoga and immediately felt welcomed by the team. 

Lisa describes Scott, our Neuro Gym Manager, as friendly and supportive, helping her feel comfortable as she took her first steps back into activity. She has since taken part in tai chi, sound baths, and women-only gym sessions, while also enjoying the café’s welcoming atmosphere, where Katrina has been a source of kindness and support. 

Lisa completed her gym induction in 2025, but further surgeries delayed her from starting regular sessions. However, the support she received encouraged her to become more active overall and helped her regain confidence in her body. 

Lisa says The Brain Charity became a vital source of support during a time when she felt she had lost so much. 

She said: 

“I felt like I had lost everything that made me who I was. The Brain Charity has been a lifeline for me.” 

Rebuilding confidence and finding purpose 

Before coming to The Brain Charity, Lisa remembers losing confidence and struggling to see what her future could look like. 

Over time, taking part in activities and meeting other people affected by neurological conditions helped her reconnect with herself. She has since joined the Liverbird Choir for people affected by cancer and attends a knit-and-knatter group at a local church. 

For Lisa, staying active and challenging herself have been important parts of rebuilding her confidence. 

Having spent her career mentoring others, she believes it is important to follow the advice she has always given. 

Lisa told us: 

“I was a mentor for a living, so I feel like I have to practise what I preach. I have to keep pushing myself outside my comfort zone.” 

Living with a brain tumour 

Lisa is living with a glioblastoma, which is not currently curable but is treatable. Lisa attends regular scans every few months, and her medical team has referred her for gene sequencing at The Walton Centre. This could help them provide more personalised treatment if her cancer progresses in the future.

Despite everything she has faced, Lisa remains focused on moving forward. 

She hopes to continue building her strength, stay involved in activities that bring her joy, and eventually regain her driving licence so she can return to another important part of her independence. 

Through determination, support and the community she has found at The Brain Charity, Lisa is continuing to rebuild her life, one step at a time.