Charity drive by mum facing op to save her sight

A MUM is facing brain surgery after her sight-loss turned out to be caused by a rare brain condition.

Terri Bennett, 23, from Bargoed, visited the optician a number of times after losing the sight in one eye in November last year.

Unable to detect the cause, she put it down to an incident when hot oil accidentally got into her eye when she was using a deep fat fryer.

She said: “My sight was going before then, but I lost my vision completely in one eye. Over the next months I was having severe headaches, pins and needles, and was fainting. I was having the headaches most days and sometimes I couldn’t get out of bed. I was having pins and needles in my neck, shoulder and spine.”

But in February, when Terri was at home looking after her three-yearold son Oliver and her seven-yearold cousin, she collapsed.

Her mother-in-law found when she went to the house.

“I was scared and I didn’t know what was happening,” she added.

“I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, which is a rare brain condition. I have to have brain surgery and I have been told I have six months until I lose sight in the other eye as well.”

Chiari Malformation is a condition in which the lower part of the brain is pushed downwards towards the spinal cord.

Terri is awaiting a date for the surgery and hopes it will be in the next six months to increase her chances her of saving the sight in her other eye.

To raise awareness of the condition, she is now raising money for the Brain and Spine Foundation.

As part of the fundraising her fiance Lewis signed up for the Caerphilly 10km run last month and raised £100 in sponsorship.

But just weeks before the race he was rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis.

“The thought of both of us being ill was very scary,” Terri said. “He’s fine, thankfully, and he is going to do another run in November.”

On July 17 Terri is holding a free family fun day at the Beechgrove Social Club in Cascade from 1pm to 5pm. There will be a bouncy castle, face-painting, monster trucks, rides, craft stalls and food and drink. Proceeds from the event and raffle will go towards the charity.