An inspirational Wiltshire mum defied doctors’ expectations and regained her speech a month after a major operation on a brain tumour.
Carly Beasley, from Chippenham, regained the ability to talk just one month after her operation in August, 2022, despite doctors telling her the process could take years.
Six months later Carly's speech is almost back to how it was before the operation.
The 35-year-old said: “It’s taken six months but I’m 90 per cent there which I’m really grateful for.
“I feel amazing that I’ve managed to gain it back so quickly, I’m almost back to normal. The hospital and speech and language therapists didn’t think it would come back this quick.”
Carly’s journey began in 2017, shortly after marrying childhood sweetheart Kris, when she suffered a sudden seizure.
After an MRI scan she was diagnosed with a grade two astrocytoma.
Reflecting on her diagnosis, Carly said: “The initial feeling was just shock. I don’t know how long it was there for.
“I had a full seizure at home and my husband called an ambulance. It was totally out of the blue and after a week they found a brain tumour.
“But I focused on the positives… I thought I could make a difference and raise awareness.”
Since her diagnosis Carly has been able to do just that, raising over £10,000 for Brain Tumour Research with the help of family and friends, while also raising her 18-month-old daughter Ivy.
She and Kris recently visited the charity’s centre of excellence at the University of Plymouth.
Carly added: “Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer so it’s really important that I’m fully involved and make people more aware of it.
“I want to drive the ambition to create more funding.”
Since the operation in August, which followed an awake craniotomy in 2018 to remove part of the tumour, Carly has been undergoing chemotherapy and set her sights on a return to normality.
“It’s about getting through every day and having a focus”, she said. “I have hard days and I do find it difficult but trying to stay positive throughout the whole adventure gets me through.
“Brain tumours will always be on my mind, and I want to help the charities as much as possible, but getting back to normal life is the most important thing.
“My sister, mum, husband and Ivy have got me through every step of the way, and I can’t wait for the day I can be a working mum.”
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