A Strange New World

By Renee Prescott

Looking back it was obvious something wasn't quite right.

I've always been prone to headaches from an early age but after having my third child they became much worse and more frequent - migraines that were so bad that I couldn't even keep water or pain relief down.

The headaches would last anywhere from one to four days and put a real damper on family life. In hindsight, they should have raised an alarm but my mother had suffered migraines so I just thought they were a hereditary thing and I battled on like this for years.

Eventually about four or five years ago I went to the doctors to ask if there was anything they could prescribe to help me and I was prescribed migraine pills. They were gold - magic in fact - and worked ninety percent of the time! So being very health focused we got into family day hikes and I would walk up the bridle path once or twice a week! It was just great to be able to live life again! Little did I know they were just masking something more serious.

About two years ago I decided to open my own cake making business which I called 'I Dream of Cake'. This was a dream come true! I loved the creative side of this so much and was so happy creating beautiful cakes and cookies for my customers, despite it taking long hours and a lot of hard work. It was much more pressure and hours that I had ever worked before.

During this time I started experiencing strange episodes which I initially put down to working long days or being run down. Then I thought perhaps they were anxiety or panic attacks. It was like my brain would just turn off briefly. I just told myself to snap out of it and carry on. I now know that what I experienced were partial seizures.

One day in May this year my younger two, both teenagers now, were home for a teachers’ only day. I had a busy week of baking cakes and cookies and was busy fulfilling orders. I had just finished my last cake for the day when I had a big seizure. My son was outside on the deck and noticed me lying on the ground. They rang an ambulance. I was unconscious for about 5 to 8 minutes after he had noticed me. I didn't 'fit' so talking to the ambulance staff it probably sounded like I had just fainted.

My kids did an incredible job of looking after me, they stayed by my side and were so calm throughout this very frightening experience. I'm really proud of how they handled the situation and were able to make me feel safe in their hands while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. After some time my husband arrived home from work and called the ambulance again. Even though I don't remember much, apart from feeling extremely confused and disorientated with a massive headache and ongoing vomiting straight after the seizure, I seemed normal and the paramedics thought I had probably fainted as they couldn't find anything really wrong.

All the same, I thought I should go and get checked out. After several hours waiting in A&E, I was seen by a triage doctor and once again nothing seemed obvious and perhaps I had just fainted but said they would do a CT scan before sending me home.

The scan showed something on my brain. Initially the doctors suspected a stroke and I was admitted to a ward. The following day I had an MRI scan, which revealed a brain tumour. This was so unexpected - not once did it ever cross my mind that I had something seriously wrong with me!

I have since had to have a series of MRI scans because the tumour is located in the left frontal lobe and there is risk of surgery causing a disability with movement on my right hand side. The neurosurgeon says they can only partially remove the tumour because of this risk. After surgery we'll be able to find out the type and grade of the tumour.

It's been a long, emotional and confusing road so far, with many cancelled appointments, MRIs and surgeries along the way. Waiting is hard. I know after my surgery it's going to be even harder.

Since the diagnosis I have had to close my cake business. When I came home from hospital I tried to get stuck back into work straight away. I tried so hard to carry on as normal. However after a few weeks I realised I wasn’t up to it and couldn't carry on.

Recovering from a seizure and getting adjusted to the epilepsy medication is actually very challenging. You often feel nauseous, dizzy and very foggy. I held on tight there for a while but eventually had to let go and put my business on hold.

I have now started painting to fill in my days. This has been a therapy which has helped me get through all this waiting. It really gets me excited and out of bed in the morning! I’m so grateful to have this as I can zone out for an entire day! It has brought a whole new calm over me.

My brain tumour experience has also inspired my paintings. I picture myself as a lady who finds herself in a strange new world.

Before my brain tumour, I had not been in hospital for anything serious before. I had easy labours and an unplanned home birth. I had never been inside an MRI machine before. So to have three MRIs, with one lasting over an hour, in the last few months, has come as a bit of a shock.

I have found the MRIs very unsettling but they have given me the idea of a space theme for my paintings. It’s like I'm in some sort of space ship and not knowing what's next!

This may seem a little childish - a grown woman putting this down on paper - but nothing in my life has ever made me feel so vulnerable. Even though I have incredible support it's a pretty scary and lonely experience being in an MRI machine. I have always had an incredible imagination which I believe is a gift and has given me the inspiration for my paintings.

Renee Prescott
September 2022

Update: 28 October 2022

Following yet another re-scheduling, Renee finally underwent surgery on 9 September at Christchurch Hospital. The surgery went really well and Renee said the neurosurgeon was ‘over the moon’ with the results. The pathology results have come back as an oligodendroglioma, grade 3. While Renee was hoping for it to be a lower grade tumour, she is heartened by the fact that this type of tumour does respond to treatment and she is scheduled to begin radiotherapy shortly. A naturally positive person, she remains optimistic for a good outcome.

Renee has continued her painting and recently received the good news that some of her paintings have been accepted for an international virtual art exhibition! Always trying to stay busy, she has also started making Christmas decorations and is looking forward to Christmas with her family.

Renee has produced this powerful and poignant photo essay to raise awareness in Brain Tumour Awareness Month (May 2023).