Kelsey Parker’s column

March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month, and in our house that holds particular significance because we’re a family going through exactly that. This month marks just over six months since my husband [The Wanted singer Tom Parker] was told he had a grade four glioblastoma: a brain tumour.

A year ago I wouldn’t have had a clue what that meant; I didn’t know anything about brain tumours. So markers like these are important in educating people and encouraging them to get themselves checked if they suffer with throbbing headaches, seizures or find any physical changes such as lumps and bumps. Tom went to get himself checked out after having a seizure last July. We were fortunate that he was diagnosed between lockdowns, otherwise it could have been a different story. Everybody deals with news like this differently. I just like to crack on and live life as it comes. I’m a naturally positive person, so as soon as Tom got diagnosed I was working out how we could fight it and get through it. We never got a prognosis because we wanted to stay positive and take every day as it comes. He got going with treatment and it’s been successful so far – his strength is totally inspirational. Our babies Aurelia, one, and Bodhi – who was born two weeks after Tom’s diagnosis – keep us both strong.

A ray of light keeping us going at the moment is the thought of summer – we have a camping holiday booked, which we’re all looking forward to. It’ll be our first holiday as a family of four. Visit Braintumourcharity. org or go to their Instagram page at @BrainTumourOrg