The mum-of-three was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma – a low grade brain tumour following an MRI scan – and underwent a craniotomy while awake
A mum who kept having feelings of deja vu was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Kirsty Connell, 39, went to her doctor after suffering terrible headaches and frequent feelings of deja vu – the phenomenon of feeling as though you have lived through a situation before. The mum-of-three was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma – a low-grade brain tumour following an MRI scan.
She underwent a craniotomy while awake – to remove a section of bone – and is now being monitored with three-monthly scans as part of a ‘watch and wait’ protocol. Kirsty, a teacher, from Old Stratford, Northamptonshire, said: “I went to my doctor because I was getting a new pattern of headaches and I was having frequent feelings of deja vu.
“She referred me to a neurologist who thought I was having hormone-related migraines but sent me for an MRI scan as a precaution. When I got taken through to a family room, I knew something wasn’t right and that’s where I was told they’d found a mass on my brain.”
Kirsty used to have out-of-body experiences as if she could feel herself in other places. She’d have a conversation with someone or be in a shop paying and would get a fun feeling and see herself in other places – such as driving her car, cooking or waking elsewhere.
Kirsty said the feelings would last a few seconds but became more and more frequent and intense over time and went to see a doctor. Following an MRI she was diagnosed in October 2021 and underwent a craniotomy in November of the same year.
She said: “My first thought was there was no way I could be awake for surgery. I’d had a mole removed previously and that completely put me off, but I was really looked after.
“I feel really lucky because the surgeons were able to remove every visible trace of my tumour and I know it could have been very different.” Kirsty is a supporter of the charity Brain Tumour Research and took part in a fundraiser which asks pupils and teachers to wear their favourite hats.
She said: “The school celebrated it last year but sadly I wasn’t there to join in because I was having a brain scan, so I was really looking forward to it this year. We held it a day early to tie in with our end-of-term assembly and it was great to see so many children and staff wearing hats.
“Everyone in my department wore the same ones – brightly coloured cowgirl hats. It was a great turnout and I can’t wait to see how much we’ve raised.” The event, which asks people to don their favourite hats, hold hat-themed events and make donations to help find a cure for brain tumours – has raised more than £2 million since being launched in 2010 and will officially take place on March 28, 2024.
Kirsty’s school is holding the event on March 27, 2024. Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “With one in three people knowing someone affected by a brain tumour Kirsty’s story is sadly not unique.
“Brain tumours kill more women under 35 than breast cancer. More men under 70 than prostate cancer and more children than leukaemia. We’re determined to change that, but we can’t do it alone. We’re really grateful to Kirsty and her colleagues and pupils at The Redway School for their support.
“Together we will find a cure.” To register for Wear A Hat Day, which can be celebrated any day in March, visit www.wearahatday.org.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
