Claire Bullimore's Blog, page 18
February 14, 2020
Podcast: My Brain Tumour Surgery Left Me In A Mess
Aunty M Brain Tumours is a place for people to share their brain tumour stories. Share your story with us.
In this episode of Aunty M’s Brain Tumours Talk Show, I interview Carol Vaughn from California, whose life was changed in 2008 by a brain tumour. Carol recounts her diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and the vital… View Post
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February 13, 2020
My Brain Tumour Left Me Incredibly Positive
Aunty M Brain Tumours is a place for people to share their brain tumour stories. Share your story with us.
My Brain Tumour Left Me Incredibly Positive – Laptop Philharmonic In July 2016 I had the pleasure of interviewing ‘musician’ Sam, aka Laptop Philharmonic. You can listen to his original interview about being diagnosed with… View Post
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October 2, 2019
I Was Diagnosed With A Craniopharyngioma
Aunty M Brain Tumours is a place for people to share their brain tumour stories. Share your story with us.
Interview with Anna Gray: In 2013 Anna was experiencing myoclonic jerks, a type of seizure. She was then diagnosed with a Craniopharyngioma. A rare type of brain tumour. Here is Anna’s Story: How did you find out… View Post
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September 29, 2019
I was Diagnosed with a Sphenoid Wing��Meningioma
Aunty M Brain Tumours is a place for people to share their brain tumour stories. Share your story with us.
Helen Patterson was diagnosed with a sphenoid wing meningioma. After a successful craniotomy, she was left with Ophthalmoplegia.��I had the pleasure of meeting Helen earlier this year at ‘The Weekend 2019’. A three-day event set… View Post
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January 4, 2015
I Bounced Back Very Quickly After My Brain Surgery, I Had No Side Affects
Aunty M Brain Tumours is a place for people to share their brain tumour stories. Share your story with us.
Julia Lavington, mother of two from Ashford talks to us about her brain tumour story. From what was a frightening diagnosis, she feels she has been very lucky with no side effects or disabilities from… View Post
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March 20, 2013
Croydon Radio – Brain Tumour Thursday – 14th March 2013
If you missed us on #CroydonRadio you can listen again on the PODCAST. Click on the link below.
http://www.croydonradio.com/upload/podcast/2013-03-14-13-02-19.mp3
This week we were talking about Comic Relief and also talked about Memory problems before/after a brain tumour.
Katy Perry – Firework
Florent Pagny – Et Un Jour Une Femme
Bigger Than Us – Song For Dd (In Loving Memory Of David Langton – Gilks.)
One Direction – One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks)
Tony Christie – (Is This The Way To) Amarillo
Bananarama And Lananeeneenoonoo – Help
Westlife – Uptown Girl (Radio Edit)
Elbow – One Day Like This
March 11, 2013
CROYDON RADIO CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
http://www.croydonradio.com/upload/podcast/2013-03-10-18-04-25.mp3
International Women’s Day is an annual event taking place on 8 March 2013. Each year, the day celebrates the achievements of women from across the globe. In the UK there are a number of events planned to mark the occasion, which are taking place throughout the month of March.
My show is dedicated exclusively to the celebration of International Women’s Day, with a Croydon twist! During this two-hour special, I will be joined by a wonderfully diverse mix of women from Croydon to discuss their lives, role models, what motivates them, how they have overcome challenges and future ambitions. We’ll also speak about women in society and ideas that can aid women to achieve more in the workplace and, more generally, in wider society.
All of the women who are joining me as studio guests are an excellent fit for the show’s themes of celebration, inspiration and empowerment. Let’s find out more about them.
WOMEN CREATING SOCIAL CHANGE…
Dr Nike Folayan
Nike is an award-winning Chartered Engineer with a doctorate in Electronics Engineering. She is founder and chairperson of the Association for Black Engineers – UK (AFBE-UK), a not-for-profit organisation which inspires people of Black and Minority Ethnic origin to make enhanced contributions to their respective fields and communities using engineering as a platform. Since its formation in 2007, one of the many achievements of the AFBE-UK includes developing mentoring programs through a number of educational organisations, including the Croydon Supplementary Educational Project. In addition, they provide informal career advice services on engineering and technical related professions to university students in and around London. http://www.afbe.org.uk
Nikki Fishman
Nikki is co-founder and director of The Collage Network, a Croydon based social enterprise which looks at unemployment from a collaborative perspective. The Collage Network views people who are “between jobs” or seeking to enter the labour market as a valuable resource, especially if they can be brought together in collaboration groups. The Network takes an integ¬rated approach of providing training workshops, which help people to assess their personal situation in the wider context of changing patterns of work; and collaboration groups, where people can collaborate on various projects for their personal and common good. Nikki and The Collage Network are also part of the Dadamac Network, whose work includes connecting people in the UK with grass-roots social networks in Africa to help with community development. http://collage-network.co.uk
WOMEN AS SURVIVORS…
Aunty M and Eileen B
Aunty M was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2008, when she was just 25. After her experiences she set up the website ‘Aunty M Brain Tumours’. The site provides information and support for people who have substantially completed medical rehabilitation from their brain tumour treatment but still need ongoing help. It also provides a platform for positivity, enabling people to meet others who understand about brain tumours. Although her real name is Claire, the pseudonym ‘Aunty M’ was adopted by Claire as she felt this would enable her to reach a wider audience.
Every week Aunty M teams up with her mum, Eileen B, to present a show on Croydon Radio: ‘Aunty M and Eileen B Brain Tumour Thursday’. In between music, the show provides positive messages for those affected by a brain tumour or who are in need of a lift. Both Auntie M and Eileen B will join me to share their special story of survival and positivity. http://www.aunty-m-brain-tumours.co.uk
WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE…
Clare George-Hilley
Clare has been a Conservative Councillor in Croydon (Waddon) since 2009. She is also the founder and chairperson of Conservative Future Women, which is dedicated to supporting the next generation of Conservative women to engage with local and national politics. Clare first became involved in politics whilst she was at school and joined the Conservative Party in 1998. She serves as a governor at a local school and is passionate about installing confidence in young women to encourage them to put themselves forward for leadership roles. www.thehilleyblog.blogspot.co.uk
WOMEN AS LEADERS…
Sandra Kerr OBE
Sandra is the National Director for Race for Opportunity, a business-led network of organisations from the private and public sector working and committed to race equality as part of their business agenda. Sandra works together with the Race for Opportunity board to set the agenda for race diversity in the UK as a business imperative. She is particularly passionate about raising the profile of senior role models from diverse backgrounds to inspire the next generation, and creating an inclusive environment through mentoring. Prior to joining Race for Opportunity, Sandra worked in the Cabinet Office advising Cabinet Ministers on diversity and policies on race, disability, gender, and work-life balance across Whitehall. http://www.bitc.org.uk/programmes/race-opportunity
Hannah Williamson
Hannah is Chief Reporter at the Croydon Guardian. http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk
WOMEN IN BUSINESS…
Claire Kerr
Claire established Kerrmunications, a B2B marketing consultancy delivering effective marketing communications for small and medium-sized UK companies, in 2004. She is an honours graduate, a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and has more than twenty years’ marketing experience in both business-to-business and consumer environments. http://www.kerrmunications.co.uk
Marcie Buxton
Marcie is an executive coach, speaker and the founder of KAMAKA, which provides expert coaching for individuals and organisations. Through her coaching, Marcie aims to unlock potential, clarifying vision, values and goals. In particular, she is passionate about working with women in business and coaching women to lead. http://www.kamaka.co.uk
WOMEN AS LEADERS: THE NEXT GENERATION
Lauraya Strachan
Lauraya, aged 13, is a member of Croydon’s Youth Council. She is part of the Staying Safe group which is looking at how young people can be kept safe from abuse and neglect.
http://www.croydonyps.org.uk/croydon-youth-council
Croydon Radio – Brain Tumour Thursday – 7th March 2013
If you missed us on #CroydonRadio you can listen again on the PODCAST. Click on the link below.
http://www.croydonradio.com/player/index.php?Player=WMP
This week we were talking about ‘The things people whom have been affected by a brain tumour want others to know’. We also played great music that people on Aunty M Brain tumours have requested over this week from around the world.
This show is presented by: Aunty M & Eileen B
Playlist for this show
We Found Out – Curse
Trudy Sings The Blues – How To Treat A Lady
Fjords – Russian Doll ArcTanGent 2013
Dantevilles – Home (1)
Popfiction PR – Yast I Wanna Be Young
TylerSmithProductions – Ryan Lawrie You’re Free (Prod
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now
Bigger Than Us – Song For Dd (In Loving Memory Of David Langton – Gilks.)
Katy Perry – Firework
Florent Pagny – Et Un Jour Une Femme
March 3, 2013
Brain Tumour Thursday – 28th January 2013
If you missed us yesterday on #CroydonRadio you can listen again on the PODCAST. Click on the link below.
Grab a cuppa and sit back while myself and Eileen B entertain you with our uplifting show.
This Thursday we had guest Vanessa Grossett Manger of The Authors Care Agency talking about her company and her connection to brain tumours.
This show is presented by: Aunty M & Eileen B
Playlist for this show
Bon Jovi – Blaze Of Glory Live At Madison Square Garden (Young Guns II 1990)
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)
Marvin Gaye; Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Anastacia – Paid My Dues
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger
February 27, 2013
Attend ABI London
Case studies
Find out about some of the people who have been helped by Attend ABI.
Below we provide some case studies and videos of people who have benefited from one of Attend ABI’s initiatives. This could be through the Employment Programme, the Work Choice Programme, the Friends of Attend ABI (FAABI), Volunteering Solutions or Attend’s Access to Work support.
http://www.attend.org.uk/projects/attend-abi/case-studies
Claire Bullimore
“It was in 2007 when I was working in an oil and gas company as an administrator/PA in London. I really enjoyed it.
“Before, and during, that time, I was experiencing some really bad health issues. I kept getting terrible headaches, my speech was going out the window, I couldn’t say the words I wanted to say, my vision would black out and my sight had deteriorated altogether. I knew there was something wrong with me so I kept going to the doctors for help. Time after time, they would suggest that it was ‘nothing’ and kept dismissing my case so after a while, I just assumed that these problems were little things about ME. I would start to just believe it was from nerves, hunger or tiredness. Obviously I know now that these things led up to what they really were – a brain tumour.
“It was in May 2008 when I was diagnosed.
“In that year, one day, I decided to go to the opticians for my eyes. I felt incredibly frustrated that I wasn’t getting the help I needed. I felt that none of the doctors believed me and that nobody was listening. However, this time round, the opticians spotted some bleeding in the back of my eyes and thought there may be some cysts in both eyes. Following on from this, she referred me to St George’s Hospital where they scanned my brain. They found the tumour which was 10cm – very big for a tumour. They said that due to the size, it must of been there for ten years, or over.
“The next day I went into surgery to get it removed; waiting any longer could have killed me.
“I was left with some really horrible symptoms. I couldn’t speak properly, I didn’t recognise people and my memory was very vague, my legs and arms were weak and both of my eyes were damaged (I have no Peripheral vision vision in my right eye). I am also on medication for seizures which keeps it under control. I will be on tablets for the rest of my life. It sucks to think you have to depend on tablets.
“This all happened within the space of six months and after a while of rehabilitation, I had returned to the oil and gas company to begin working again. I was very lucky for them to have me back. However, all staff were later made redundant due to a merger.
“After this, I applied to many other jobs and was getting offers for many positions, but I found that they were not ideal for me. I was always given jobs that I couldn’t cope with because they were too overwhelming. Therefore, having tried and seen that these jobs weren’t for me, I went to the job centre (although I was reluctant at first). The job centre told me about Attend and how they could help, support and find jobs for me. I was really enthusiastic about this.
“I arrived at Attend in 2011 and did all sorts of things. A part of what the staff did was help you understand what had happened to you, how to understand your body and your brain. It was about helping you cope with the state you’re in now and how things would be different. They taught me coping strategies and I learnt how to go forward and not give up.
“I was encouraged to do some voluntary work and they helped to find me a placement in my local St Christopher’s Hospice. There, I was doing different things, mainly admin. It was nice being back in a working environment again . It made me feel more comfortable and able in myself.
“Since then, I have developed my own company – I am the founder of a website called ‘Aunty M Brain Tumours’, which acts as an online community for those affected by brain tumours, and have set up all kinds of social media network groups. I actually created it initially because I saw what Attend was doing and really wanted to develop a space for individuals who specifically have or had brain tumours to come together, support, advise and help each other. Attend was a big influence on my website development and so I’ll be sure to return the favour and refer people to Attend if they are capable of coming.
“I also have my own book out, called A Brain Tumour’s Travel Tale. During my ordeal, I was writing a diary that recorded things that I discovered, things that had happened and things that were going to happen. It’s a very intimate tale of my personal experience and a year ago, I decided to turn it into a book and have put it on Amazon.
“So far, it is doing well. It was released in late September 2012, just before Christmas, but insofar I have sold over 600 digital downloads.
“For the future, I plan to keep on going with Aunty M Brain Tumours. It can be quite difficult because I don’t ask for money from the users so I really hope to secure some income to keep the site going. It’s really important to me”
Writtern by Cam Yan Ha
