The memoirs of a Brain Tumour survivor: Going into Surgical & Psychological Warfare against a Meningioma Brain tumour .

Dear reader, My name is Daniela, and in March 2015 I was diagnosed with a Brain Tumour. This book is about my journey from diagnoses, right through to Surgery and beyond. I have tried to keep it as real and factual as possible, therefore you can expect elements of humour, which I believe is essential when dealing with a life changing diagnoses, right through to the sometimes bizarre and often real "Rip the plaster off" emotional roller coaster journey I found myself experiencing. It is also graphic in some aspects, as I don't believe in sugar coating anything. But what it most definitely is not is a tale of woe, of the "Oh poor me" variety. It's raw and brutal, and I think very accurately describes the myriad of emotions, together with the side stuff that goes along with any health crisis. And by "Side stuff" I mean the real life stuff that happens despite what medical crisis anyone of us maybe going through. It's a real life account of how I felt and what I recall (both physically & emotionally) on not only the run up to surgery, but also the unforeseen complications that resulted in my prolonged stay in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. But I must stress there are parts that you will laugh at, even I did whilst writing it. There are parts that are graphic (also some really funny) and sad in equal measure. In the space of a year so much happened that I still can't quite believe it, so, encouraged to write it all down by members of my Brain Tumour Support group, I finally have. Finally, and as a friendly word of warning, I'm a born and bred South London girl, and proud of it. There is some colourful language, but as I mentioned before this is my story, and by telling it to you I hope that it not only inspires you, but can also prove that there really is hope, even in the darkest of days. I also hope that if you are a Brain Tumour sufferer and/or a carer, or even a medical professional, this book will give you something. Just what exactly depends on you, insight/understanding, or perhaps as a medical professional a re-evaluation of how you might handle things slightly differently. But above all I want you to enjoy it. This isn't a story designed to fill you with horror, it's important to remember that! Nobody could have foreseen the complications I experienced following surgery, and nine times out of ten surgery will go just fine! I really hope you can see the humour that got me through some really bad stages, as I sincerely believe that humour is as good as medicine in some aspects of coping with a life-changing illness. If you have enjoyed reading this book, please leave a review, this is virgin territory for me after all. And if I can help just one person then the journey alone has been worth it. And finally to all Brain Tumour sufferers everywhere, you are Warriors in every sense of the word. I am awe of every single one of you. I have written this both as I speak and think, because it's real