Ella Pick blamed how she was feeling on her boozing and partying – but the 19-year-old, from Boston, Lincolnshire, began experiencing severe migraines before doctors delivered bad news
A teenager thought she was suffering from a hangover during girls’ holiday – but it turned out to be an incurable brain tumour.
Ella Pick believed she was unable to keep up with her friends during a girls’ holiday to Zante because of a ‘hangover’. But doctors discovered the tumour. meaning she had just a year left to live. She felt ‘off’ towards the end of a week-long trip to the Greek island with four friends where she celebrated the end of college last June – but blamed it on her boozing and partying.
But the 19-year-old, from Boston, Lincolnshire, began experiencing severe migraines after returning home from the trip abroad. Her left eye then began drifting inwards – prompting an urgent visit to her local optician who referred her to hospital. Doctors discovered a lump on Ella’s brain and gave her the devastating news she has an incurable and inoperable brain tumour, giving her just 12 months left to live. The teenager had to turn down an interview for her dream job, working as cabin crew for British Airways, because of her diagnosis.
Ella, who works on a check-out at a supermarket, said she feels “numb” since her prognosis – and wants to make as many memories with her friends and family as possible with whatever time she has left. She said: “Everything kind of started last June when I went away with my girls to Zante for a holiday. It was an amazing holiday.
“I think for the first two or three nights, I felt absolutely fine. We were all having the best time. Then I didn’t exactly feel ill, I just didn’t feel myself. I wasn’t drinking as much or going out as much. I thought maybe it could be a hangover. I just felt off. Now I look back and think I clearly wasn’t well.
“We got home and I felt absolutely fine then a week or so later I started getting severe migraines. The pressure in the back of my head was awful. I’ve always suffered with migraines but never to that extent. Then my left eye drifted inwards towards the middle of my face. I went for an eye test and they referred me to the hospital and said it was ‘major concern’.”
Ella was taken to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, Lincolnshire, after a particularly severe migraine in the shower. Before this, she had experienced migraines for some years, but it is not known if these were related to the tumour or not. c
The cancer is incurable and inoperable – with Ella given an estimated 12 months left to live in July last year. Ella said: “I just felt completely numb. It still doesn’t feel real. Everyone else around me is hurting more than I am. They can’t exactly say how long I have because I can’t have a biopsy because of where the tumour is.
“If I were to have a biopsy, they would more than likely paralyse me so they can’t exactly say how many months I have. I’ve gone back to work and would just rather go on with life as normal. I’ve been on a few holidays with my family – we’re just trying to make the most of the time we have.”
Ella had a six-week course of radiotherapy last year in the hope of slowing the progression of the tumour. Her latest scan revealed the tumour was stable and ‘not growing’ after the course of treatment – and Ella admits she’s ‘open to anything’ to help increase her chances.
She said: “There’s always different trials with different drugs. I’d be willing to try anything.
“You never expect something like this to happen at 18. It’s like a movie. It’s not actually sunk in even though I’ve known for nine months. I’m just trying to get away as much as possible and stay positive.”
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.
