Hi, my name is Ian and I’m raising funds towards the cost of a wet room downstairs.

Quotes for doing this work are over £20,000 and any money you can donate will be greatly appreciated as this is being totally self funded.

In 2011 I was diagnosed with a grade 3 oligodendroglioma brain tumour. Statistically, my life expectancy at that point with this type of cancer, was 14% chance of survival beyond 5 years, most people don’t survive 2 years. I realise how lucky I am to still be here.

Any malignant brain tumour is not curable. It can only be managed. I’ve always known that I’ll never ring the bell for an all-clear.

I had surgery and then 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy, which was brutal. Luckily I managed to continue work as an IT consultant and over the years I’ve had to have chemotherapy to keep managing the tumour when it regrows. Unfortunately, in 2020 the effects of all of this, and the damage it caused to my brain, meant that I was no longer able to work.

In 2023 I had to have a second brain surgery. Sadly, this surgery left me with functional issues that mean I struggle with my walking, balance, speech, memory and fine motor movements, which means that I can no longer write.

This year I was starting to get symptoms such as blackouts, which lead to falls, more seizures, and grand mal seizures along with exhaustion. After falling backwards down the stairs and landing on the top of my head I was told that I was not able to use stairs safely any longer.

Several more blackouts, being ambulanced to hospital 3 times in a week, and kept in for a week, lead to me being diagnosed with a second brain tumour, atrial fibrillation (a heart condition), hypotension (low blood pressure) and a pulmonary embolism (a “massive” blood clot on the lung).

My wife immediately converted our downstairs office into a bedroom for me so that I don’t use the stairs. This room has a downstairs loo off it but no bathroom. I am currently showering 3 times a week at our friends ground floor apartment. I’m not able to drive so am driven by my wife, who is also now my full time carer.

I really need to be able to shower in my own home especially when I’m not feeling well from the chemotherapy. Also, as we head towards winter, going out on frosty ground is worrying for me because of my issues with walking.

It has been recommended by the occupational therapist that a stairlift will not be an option due to my blackouts and seizures so I’m looking to raise funds towards a conversion for the loo to be turned into a wet room.

Any small amount that you can offer will be so gratefully received as this wet room will greatly improve my quality of life - meaning that I can bathe safely in my own home.

Huge thanks,

Ian