Laura Mahon

"All the staff we’ve encountered at each hospital have been amazing and so supportive. I cannot thank them enough for looking after our baby and us.”

Laura Mahon

In September 2021 at just 20 weeks pregnant, Laura Mahon was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). As Laura became increasingly unwell, she and partner Danny decided to bring their daughter, Sienna into the world at 30 weeks.

“My husband, Danny, and I were so excited about the prospect of having our first child together. One morning in September 2021, I woke up and realised that my toes on my right foot weren’t moving. I didn’t think too much about it. After all I was pregnant and was feeling tired. But things got worse the next day, and I could no longer move my right leg and was struggling to walk.

At 24 weeks pregnant, I went to see my GP, who thought the baby was lying on a nerve and causing the problems. Tests came back clear. But I was sent for another MRI scan on my brain to make sure everything was OK. Following this, I was pulled into a room with my mum and was told the devastating news that I had a brain tumour.”

Just days after Sienna was born, an MRI revealed Laura’s tumour had nearly doubled in size and she was told that it was now inoperable. Following Laura’s diagnosis, she and Danny married in January, registered Sienna’s birth and had her christened. The following week, Laura started a six-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“Sienna was taken to the neonatal ward where she was placed in an incubator. She developed pneumothorax (a collapsed lung) and needed a higher care unit. So she was transferred to Oldham Hospital on just day two of her life. Danny and I left Warrington and followed her there. All the staff we’ve encountered at each hospital have been amazing and so supportive. I cannot thank them enough for looking after our baby and us.”

In January 2023, after a routine scan Laura was told, her tumour had spread to the other half of her brain. She was put on the chemotherapy drug Lomustine. And after two cycles Laura had a seizure. An emergency scan revealed that this chemotherapy drug wasn’t working. Shortly after Laura was admitted to hospital for ten days with original tumour symptoms and sickness. New scans showed swelling on her brain, and she had also contracted Covid.

“At this point I’ve completed 12 months of chemotherapy. I receive it for ten days every month and I will be on this for the foreseeable future. Plus, I will continue to be scanned every three months. Our latest scan in August 2023 has shown that the brain tumour is currently stable and has even shrunk a little.

Thanks to the care she is receiving at Clatterbridge, Laura will be able to spend Christmas with her loving husband Daniel and their daughter Sienna and it’s thanks to your generous donations that we can continue to support families like Laura’s, allowing them to cherish more precious moments with their loved ones.

If you would like to read more stories like Laura’s to see where your donations go then click here.

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Emma Rodgers

The Clatterbridge Fairy was specially created by our Charity Patron, internationally acclaimed sculptor, Emma Rodgers.

We asked Emma to share why she's supporting our Fairy Appeal:
"I have been a Patron of Clatterbridge Cancer Charity for 14 years now, as my mum is cared for there. They are incredible with her and getting the 'all clear' was a wonderful moment. They've done more for me than I can ever do for them, so creating the Fairy seems a small thing, really.

And this year I will be dedicating my Fairy to Professor Myint and the Team at Clatterbridge love from Emma, Milly, Annie and family."