KELLIE’S BRAVE FIGHT
KELLIE Turner is known among family and friends for putting on a brave face but now the Townsville mother of three has a mountain to overcome – brain surgery in America while awake.
On Australia Day 2016, Kellie’s life changed forever. During a normal workout at a gym, the 35- yearold suffered a seizure.
It was first thought to be a case of overexertion but was actually caused by a tumour.
MRI scans revealed a 5.3cm brain lesion on her frontal lobe, a part of the brain which controls cognitive function, including speech.
Within two weeks Kellie was di- agnosed with a high grade 3 oligodendroglioma.
She was immediately put on medication which meant she had to stop breastfeeding her then sixmonth- old daughter and started treatment by Easter that year.
Leading Sydney neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo managed to remove most of the tumour, buying Kellie valuable time. When she came out of anaesthesia all she could say was yes and no.
“At my age, with three kids … it was pretty scary but I had to do it,” she said. “It’s nearly impossible to get rid of all of it ( the tumour).”
Kellie regained her speech and was on the mend, returning to fitness training and spending time with family and friends. But two years after her first surgery, Kellie’s tumour returned with aggression, having tripled in size. Kellie’s only chance now lies with an American neurosurgeon who specialises in removing tumours from critical motor skill and speech regions of the brain.
“I don’t have another option … they ( her family) need me,” Kellie said.
Next month, Kellie will travel to America for intraoperative brain mapping ( awake brain surgery).
“My husband is coming along with me,” Kellie said. “The kids will stay home with my mother- in- law. They ( medical staff) talk to you the whole time through the surgery.”
Kellie hopes her story will raise awareness around brain cancer.
“My cause is brain cancer awareness,” Kellie said.
Kellie’s family has set up a Gofundme page to raise money for her medical expenses. Anyone wishing to donate can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/kellie039s-fight-against-brain-cancer.
AT MY AGE, WITH THREE KIDS … IT WAS PRETTY SCARY BUT I HAD TO DO IT. KELLIE TURNER