A married couple have been dealt a double blow of horrendous luck – as both of them are coming to terms with the impacts of devastating brain tumours.
Colin, 59, and Anita Jamieson, 45, from Emberton in Buckinghamshire, say they have learned to “accept” the disease after both being diagnosed just months apart.
Mr Jamieson was the first to be told he was suffering with two tumours in July 2018 after suffering from headaches, violent sickness, and tiredness for at least three years.
Only 14 months later, his wife was told she too had the same. Upon learning about her own condition, Ms Jamieson said: “At first I was shocked, really scared for our daughter and extremely angry.
“It seemed so unfair that Colin and I would both be affected by this disease, but I’ve now learned to accept it.”
‘My husband is very different from the man I knew’
Ms Jamieson explained her husband had impaired hearing and was being monitored with regular scans, having undergone multiple operations and radiotherapy.
She explained his condition: “Colin’s memory is horrific, and he has trouble processing things as a result of his brain tumours. He used to run his own transport company, which we were forced to shut, and had a couple of related jobs but, after recovering from surgery, it became apparent he was unable to process information.”
She revealed his personality is changing because of “everything he’s been through.”
“He was always pretty easy-going but he now gets angry… Colin’s still loving and kind, but very different to the man I knew before.”
The couple are backing Brain Tumour Research’s campaign, which has been calling on the government to ring-fence £110m of current and new funding towards the national investment in research.
They want the charity’s petition which aims to increase research funding, to reach 100,000 signatures in the hope of prompting a parliamentary debate.
According to Brain Tumour Research, brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Colin and Anita’s stories are a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of this disease, which can affect anyone at any time.”
