Husband sent selfies during operation on tumour

A HUSBAND who developed the same aggressive brain tumour as his wife in a “one-in-a-million” diagnosis sent selfies as he stayed awake during five hours of surgery.

Jim Murphy 54, was operated on at Hull Royal Infirmary, with both him and the surgical team in full PPE due to Covid-19 risk.

Mr Murphy said he listened to music to help drown out the noise of the surgical instruments and even sent selfies to friends and family on WhatsApp.

He said: “At first people couldn’t believe it but were chuffed to think they were involved in some way, messaging me back to say ‘OMG are you being operated on now?’”

The procedure, known as an awake craniotomy, involves bringing the patient round for part of the operation so surgeons can monitor motor skills.

The Asda buying manager said he was amazed to be awake to witness the whole surgical team giving him a round of applause at the end. He said: “In a bizarre way, I really enjoyed the surgery. It was like a great meeting at work where I was one of the key decision makers helping to guide the team on how far they could go.”

Mr Murphy, from Cawood near York, said he never imagined his symptoms meant he had a brain tumour despite his wife, Gill, 47, being diagnosed with one 18 years earlier and having three operations herself.

He said that Mrs Murphy’s tumour recently became aggressive. It is a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which is the same type as her husband’s and the most virulent form of brain tumour. “What are the chances of that? You just couldn’t make it up could you?” Mr Murphy said.

“I have been so inspired by her journey and the fact that she is still here – after being told initially she had just a few years – gives me great hope that I can beat it too.”