21/02/2026
They say life can change in a heartbeat and for our family, that reality came true on Tuesday.
My beautiful Dad has been diagnosed with a Glioblastoma brain tumour and due to its aggressive nature, itâs already Stage 4 and classed as âPalliative Careâ.
We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken.
For anyone who knows me, my Dad is someone I speak to or see every single day. The person I spend my Saturday mornings with at Parkrun.
He may be 76 years, but he is THE fittest and strongest person I know. Golf 3 times a week and gym a couple of times.
After having some confused moments for just 3 weeks, we were told he was âdehydratedâ just one week ago today, but that heâd be sent for blood test for possible thyroid issue on Wednesday.
On Tuesday lunchtime, I went round to see him and knew instantly that I was taking him to A&E. This wasnât dehydration. He didnât put up any fight. Thatâs unlike him. Heâs VERY strong willed and really knows his body. Very healthy and in tune with it.
So alongside a very upset Mum (his soul mate for 60 years), we went off to A&E.
Blood tests, urine tests (we honestly thought theyâd detect a UTI and after a night of antibiotics heâd be home), ECG and escalating within hours to chest X Ray, and then by 7pm, a CT scan, I was panicking inside.
We were taken to a cubicle around 10pm and when the Doctor struggled to close the flimsy blue wrap around curtain and dad said âoh donât worry about thatâ and her replying back with âno, I need some privacy for thisâ, I knew this wasnât âjust dehydration or a UTIâ.
A shadow found on the brain thatâs indicative of a tumour, a malignant tumour. When people say âthe room spins, the walls close in and everything sounds muffled and you donât remember anything else other than âTHOSE WORDSâ, itâs so trueâ.
There are no words to describe how we are feeling. Itâs pain like Iâve never known. Dad has been amazing - he has such strength and resilience and I know I get mine from him.
Things have escalated quickly since then in terms of more devastating news. Yesterday we were told itâs a very aggressive form and classed as âpalliative careâ đđ˘
I stayed behind to speak to the doctor as had and still have so many questions. Dad has a Glioblastoma - just 3200 people in the UK are diagnosed with this form of brain tumour a year. How is my beautiful Dad one of them?
One of the most evil twists of fate in this too - one of my dadâs best golf buddies passed away with Glio just 4 months after having surgery and treatment from it. Thatâs all my dad has in terms of âknowing about itâ. But Dad is a very positive person and has said âIâm going to do whatever I need to to get back out there as I have so much life to live stillâ. And he does. Iâve always said âmy Dad is going to be 95 years plusâ.
Iâm a very proactive person and I wonât ever believe that weâre now on borrowed time. Iâve already started looking at clinical trials, second opinions and after 3 more scans of MRI and CT, Iâm awaiting calls now with the Neuro Surgeon.
Iâm not one to post personal stuff on social media, but if anyone has any information or advice, please message me.
I wonât give up this fight for my Dad and my Mum. Never. đ
Obviously Hollands Health is now closed for the foreseeable future.