Brain op ‘miracle’ for brave Emma

Mum Emma Selby has begun the next stage of her recovery from major brain surgery surrounded by her loved ones at home.

The 38-year-old's family hailed it a ‘Christmas miracle’ after a specialist at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary last month agreed to carry out the procedure to remove her third and aggressive cancerous tumour.

It is hoped treatment she has already undergone to control the two others will c o nt i nue to ke e p th e m at bay, while the immunotherapy which had been planned to tackle the most worrying mass is to be continued following its first cycle – but at a total cost of £96,000 which must be raised by her loved ones.

In the meantime, the Peterlee mum is home following her Christmas Eve discharge and beginning her road to recovery with the support of her family.

Her sight has been slightly affected by the surgery, leaving her with double vision when she uses both eyes, so is using a patch for now, with 35 staples in her head following the op.

She has also shown the symptoms of a condition which impacts balance, but it is hoped these issues will

improve as time goes on.

As a new national lockdown follows Tier 4, a halt was put on fundraising events, including a New Year's Day dip in Seaham, but it is hoped businesses will reach out to help offer their support. Eng

land player and former Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford has gifted gloves and a top to be raffled off, while a signed shirt from Boro striker Ashley Fletcher is already up for grabs.

Her sister Karen, 45, who

works for Bill Scott’s Taxis, which links in with Chevron, said: “She’s doing really well and she keeps feeling like she should be doing better, but I’ve told her, she’s got to remember it’s only two weeks since she had major surgery.

"She’s managed to make herself breakfast and that’s the kind of thing she couldn’t do before Christmas.

"I’m just ecstatic.”

Emma is also being supported by her son Thomas, 14, partner Keith Scott, 45, and siblings Gary, 47, and Claire, 36, as well as her parents Anna, 70, and Victor, 71.

Donations to Em ma’ s fund, which has already topped £27,000, can be found via www.gofundme.com/f/tmzd2-saving-emma.

The wound from her surgery shows the magnitude of the procedure which was carried out.

Emma has been experiencing double vision since her surgery, but it is hoped it will improve.

Emma is being helped by her family bubble as she continues her recovery at home.