A NEW mum dismissed her fatigue and headaches as “baby brain” – but woke up from a seizure with her terrified family staring at her in horror.
Amy Dyer, 37, believed her extreme tiredness and low concentration were simply part of life as a parent.
Amy Dyer with her son[/caption]
The mum thought her tiredness was part of being a parent but she was rushed to A&E after seizures in December 2022[/caption]
She was told she had a brain tumour, with a biopsy revealing she had an astrocytoma[/caption]
She put off going to the doctor’s about her symptoms, thinking there was “nothing unusual” going on.
But after being struck by a seizure in her sleep, Amy received a devastating diagnosis.
Amy, a computer science teacher, from Cullompton, Devon, said: “I’d had our little boy and was juggling life as a mum and teaching.
“I thought I had what everyone calls ‘baby brain’ tiredness, low concentration, feeling foggy.
“It all just felt like part of motherhood, especially after having a baby.
“I didn’t go to the doctors because I genuinely thought it was just postnatal exhaustion, maybe low iron or fatigue. Nothing unusual.”
But in December 2022, after experiencing “terrible” headaches, low concentration and eventually a seizure in her sleep, Amy was rushed to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
“I started having headaches, terrible ones that would wake me up in the middle of the night,” she said.
“Looking back, I realise my concentration levels were much lower than they should have been.
“I was startled to wake up to my sister, Chloe and husband, Will, staring at me in horror, I thought they were joking, how could I have had a seizure if I was asleep?”
At the hospital she suffered a second seizure and a CT scan revealed a space-occupying lesion in her brain.
She was prescribed anti-seizure medication and given an MRI scan.
“One minute I was in bed, the next, I was in hospital, facing brain scans and big decisions,” Amy recalled.
“It was dreadful.”
Amy with her partner and son[/caption]
Amy had a crainotmy in 2023[/caption]
The surgery was a success but it revealed Amy had a more aggressive grade 3 astrocytoma[/caption]
After further tests, Amy was referred to University Hospital Plymouth for a biopsy and, in May 2023, was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma, a type of brain tumour.
Faced with the option to wait and monitor the tumour or have surgery, Amy chose to undergo an awake craniotomy in June 2023.
Amy said: “I heard the words tumour, and my world changed.
“I didn’t want to wait to see if the tumour would develop, so I chose surgery.
“The risks scared me: seizures, complications, even death. But I knew I couldn’t leave it and risk it becoming inoperable.”
Symptoms of astrocytoma
Astrocytoma is a common type of primary brain tumour, which means it starts in the brain instead of spreading there.
Astrocytomas start in stem cells, which eventually develop in to one of the different types of brain cells, such as astroctyes.
Astrocytes are brain cells that connect and support nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
As astrocytes are found throughout the brain, astrocytomas can occur in many different areas of the brain.
These tumours grow from cells that are vital in processing information in the brain, so they can disrupt the function of whichever area of the brain they are growing in.
Some of these tumours grow in the cerebellum, which controls balance.
They can also occur in the optic pathways, which are involved in sight.
So, symptoms can be very different between people affected by these tumours. That being said, common astrocytoma symptoms could include:
- Headaches
- Difficulty speaking
- Change in vision, like double vision or blurriness
- Cognitive difficulties, like trouble thinking or remembering
- Seizures (epilepsy)
Source: The Brain Tumour Charity
On 8 June 2023, Amy underwent the procedure at University Hospital Plymouth.
Surgeons initially kept her awake to monitor brain function, asking her to move her left hand, before placing her under general anaesthetic to complete the operation.
The surgery was considered a success, and Amy spent five days in hospital.
“Thankfully, I didn’t lose mobility on my left side,” she said.
“They weren’t able to tell me the percentage of the tumour they removed, but I’m happy they felt the operation was a success.”
Amy underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy after the operation[/caption]
Amy attends a friend’s baby shower six days after having a craniotmy in June 2023[/caption]
Amy’s hair following radiotherapy in October 2023[/caption]
Further testing revealed the tumour was a more aggressive grade 3 astrocytoma.
“They sent it away to be tested and found out that it was in fact a grade 3 astrocytoma,” she said.
“Doctors asked to keep some of the tumour to aid research which I agreed.”
Since then, she has undergone physiotherapy, occupational therapy, 33 sessions of radiotherapy, and oral chemotherapy.
She now has routine scans every four months.
In June 2025, she received a clear scan, three years after her first symptoms. Amy described this as “great news“.
She said: “I’ve learned to take life slower.
“Before, I was on a hamster wheel. Now I value people, time and memories more than possessions.
“I haven’t had a seizure since the first two in 2022, and I received a clear scan for June 2025 which is great news.”
Amy is now fundraising for Brain Tumour Research by participating in the 88 Squats a Day in July Challenge to raise money for a cure.
Katrina Jones, Head of Community Fundraising at Brain Tumour Research said: “Amy’s strength and determination in sharing her story is truly inspiring, by opening up about her experience, she’s not only raising vital awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours but also helping to highlight the urgent need for more funding into research.
“We’re incredibly grateful for her support and proud to have her as part of our fundraising community.”
Amy had her first clear scan in June 2025[/caption]
She is now fundraising for Brain Tumour Research[/caption]
