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| 25/9/2003 Hello, My name is Geoffrey Fitchett, I was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour at around the age of 9 years old, some 16 years ago. This is my story of determination to battle through life and also the help and hope given, to my family, and myself, at the time. My tumour was only discovered due to my right hand losing power, I could not write nor hold heavy objects and I was taken to see a doctor for further tests. At the time I still think I was too young to realise the severity of what had happened and still remained my happy normal self. It was one day, weeks after being diagnosed, that I suffered a panic attack and realised that all was not well. It seemed, at that time, that all the worry and tension had built up, subconsciously, without me knowing. I was then subjected to CT scans and two operations at Great Ormond Street in London (UK). The first of these operations were to explore the area of my brain that held the tumour, and the second to see if it could be removed. At this time the whole of my right hand side was partially paralysed, I lost power to my right leg but could still walk and now can run due to mile upon mile of cycling, and walking, to build up the muscles. Sadly, the result of both operations were not much help, the doctors would not remove the tumour due the fact that the area concerned controlled all movement, this meant if the area was disturbed I could become totally paralysed. With this my parents despaired, I attended an intensive course of Radiotherapy (again in London) for eight weeks. To me all this seemed to do was make my hair fall out and I became bald, a further blow to my confidence. At this point I felt like giving up until an article in the Sunday Times (UK Newspaper) was published. It outlined the work and achievements of a Doctor Rudy Falk and the Falk Oncology Clinic and the treatments that could help me. My parents immediately got in contact with Dr Falk and it was decided that we would make the worthwhile trip from the UK to Toronto in Canada. The first night was a bit frightening; we had to stay in the hospital staff quarters and then were told we could not stay there. This was until we got to see and meet the staff at the clinic, the person who has stuck in my mind all these years is a lady called Rita Mikkelsaar. I believe it was Rita who then put us in touch with the Ronald McDonald House to where we spent our time outside the clinic, it was a home from home and the people were, of course, lovely. It was a godsend to be able to rest somewhere comfortable because the treatment at the clinic was tiring and drained any energy I had, however, the days of treatment were broken up by days out in between to various attractions such as the CN Tower and shopping trips. It was in the capable hands of Dr Falk and his team that I returned, again, for further treatment. The treatment was a mix of intravenous drip and heat pads around my head, by this time I had developed a real phobia of needles and would generally only allow Rita to do this for me. These trips to Canada also affected other people too, my little brother, he had to be left behind with an Aunty and being himself very young at the time did not really understand, he just thought it immensely unfair. After several MRI scans I have now been told that the tumour is smaller than it was, but I have gained little more control over my right hand side. I am still fully active but keep the muscles in my arm and leg exercised so that they don’t cease up, I also lose my balance very easily but I work through that. Having been told for five years running that the tumour has stayed the same size I can only assume it is there to stay, I have adapted to living the way I do and have built up the muscles in my left arm to compensate. My one achievement that made me prove I could get through all the problems was to drive. I passed the test first time, with an adapted car, and then was fully mobile; the world was then my oyster. My next achievement was to get married and have children, to which I seemed to pass with flying colours too, I got married in August of 2000 and now have a little boy and twin girls born just 11 weeks before writing this story. I want this story to give hope and inspiration to people who are in a similar situation as I have been, never give up hope, there are always people to listen to and help you in some way, whatever predicament you are in. It just happened that the hope in my case lay thousands of miles from home, when I heard the Dr Falk had passed away I was sad, but there are still good people, people who will help out there in the world. When I found that Rita Mikkelsaar was contactable via e-mail it took me back and I felt upset as it took me back all those years, but it is trough people such as herself that I am where I am and she knows how grateful I am to her and all of the team. Thank you. Geoff. |
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