My pregnant wife got a headache - and died 26 hours later
A HEARTBROKEN husband whose pregnant wife died of a brain tumour just hours after complaining of a headache has launched a fundraising drive for vital research.
Michelle Inman, 29, first complained of severe headache. She was admitted into hospital and found to have a malignant brain tumour.
Despite emergency surgery, doctors were forced to switch off Michelle’s life support machine just 26 hours later. Her family said they have been left numb at her rapid deterioration and death.
But they have already raised thousands of pounds for charity Brain Tumour Research.
Michelle’s husband James, 27, set up the crowdfunding page. He met Michelle, originally from Devon, while they were studying at the Open University. They married in June 2014 and were due to celebrate their third wedding anniversary this weekend.
The couple lived in Ancoats and Bury before moving to Helmshore in Rossendale.
They ran two businesses, including a successful software and systems firm.
Michelle was 11 weeks pregnant with their first child when she died. James said: “You hear about things like this on the news, but you never, ever expect them to happen to you. We had absolutely no idea anything was wrong. There was literally 26 hours between her complaining of a headache and me having to turn off her life support machine.
“I’m completely heartbroken. But I’m taking small comfort from the fact she was so happy.
“We had just moved to a beautiful new home in the countryside, which she loved.
“Our businesses were doing incredibly well thanks to her commitment and drive and our pregnancy was healthy.
“I’m just finding it hard to process at the moment.”
Doctors have told James they believe Michelle’s tumour was ‘undetectable.’
He said: “The response I’ve had has been absolutely overwhelming. People have been so generous, which just shows how popular she was.
“I’ve read that brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of people aged under 40, but just one per cent of the national cancer research is spent on them.
“Everyone I’ve spoken to says that’s just a scandal.”
Michelle’s funeral will be held at Monday, June 26, at 1pm at St Mary’s Chambers on Haslingden Road in Rawtenstall. The family is asking for donations to the Brain Tumour Research charity instead of flowers and would like mourners to wear bright colours.
To donate James’ fundraising campaign go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/michelleinman