Kirkby mum who suffered brain tumour takes on charity challenge to help others

Mum of one Amy Stones, who lives at Holly Grove, walked 10,000 steps throughout February, to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

Amy, 34, who is married to Adam and has a 17-month-old son, Lucas, has already raised £1,190, with more coming in, although her initial target was £100.

The former Ashfield School pupil’s life was devastated in November 2014 when a routine eye check found she had a benign brain tumour, an ‘acoustic neuroma.’ The tumour was about 3cm at the bottom of her brain and touching the optic nerve.

At the time, Amy was only 27, recently married and had a promising career ahead of her working as engineering planner with ECS Engineering in Huthwaite.

Amy said: “I’d just gone to SpecSavers for my eye test, I was later sent to King’s Mill for tests and there, within an hour, they had rushed me to the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) A&E. I was in hospital for three weeks. It was weird, I felt fine. I could hardly believe it when they said I had a brain tumour. I was put on steroids.”

Amy underwent a seven-hour operation at QMC to remove the tumour and endured other treatments. She was in intensive care, then sent home to recuperate, but was rushed back just after Christmas, with hydrocephalus - fluid on the brain – and a shunt was fitted. She spent her 28th birthday, on January 19, 2015, in hospital.

Treatments have left Amy with a facial palsy, she can’t fully smile and has nerve damage on the right side of face and her eye’s ability to open and close was affected.

Nottinghamshire health chiefs welcome Government's road map but urge residents to stick to rules

Amy said: “When I came round from my surgery the first thing I asked will I ever be able to have a child? They said yes, but I was worried about it.”

In the meantime, Amy acquired her beloved dog, cockapoo Chester, now five-years-old, who helped her recovery. Then in October, 2019, her son Lucas arrived to complete the family.

She said: “My mum, Paula Beck and husband Adam have been so supportive and Chester helped keep me motivated. I got quite down at times, but he is so loyal, he knows when I am down and he’d cheer me up, then Lucas came along, it was fantastic

"I’d got involved with Headway, made lots of friends and everyone there loves Lucas. I thought I was on my own coping with my illness, but met others in a similar situations and I had lots of support.

Hospice receives 1,000 masks from Mansfield business

"They helped me do crafts and activities, laughter yoga and join walking clubs and it’s an amazing organisation, very close to my heart.”

Amy, accompanied by Chester and Lucas, walked between three to five miles a day, to do 10,000 steps. Amy’s other Headway friends including Michelle Thomas are also fundraising.

Amy’s mum Paula Beck said: “It is a challenge doing 10,000 steps, but Amy is very determined. I’m so proud of her. I know she is my daughter, but she really is an inspiration!”

Amy formerly raised £1200, for Headway by organising a fete at Newstead, Annesley Woodhouse, in May 2018.

To donate to Amy’s efforts see: Amy's fundraiser for Brain Tumour Research walking 10,000 steps a day.