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Alison Haspell, a 51-year-old mother from Northwich, Cheshire, received a life-changing diagnosis after a routine eye check revealed a hidden threat lurking within her brain.

Despite attributing her daytime napping and forgetfulness to the normal process of aging, Alison's routine eye appointment led to a referral to an eye hospital for further tests, prompted by the optician's observation of swelling behind her eye. Subsequent CT scans unveiled a 5cm benign tumor known as meningioma.

Reflecting on her experience, Alison recalled, "I never thought that anything was wrong. That's the scary bit because if I hadn't gone to that routine eye test where it was found then I could be dead now, or I could be on my way to being dead."

Alison's husband, Scott, noticed subtle changes in her behavior, including dementia-like symptoms and increased anxiety attacks, which Alison initially attributed to the stresses of the pandemic. However, with the benefit of hindsight, she now recognizes these as potential manifestations of the underlying tumor.

"Thinking back on it I was having afternoon sleeps, which I'd never done before. But I just thought I was tired, or depressed because I had depression," she told Mirror.

Despite the absence of classic symptoms such as headaches, Alison's routine eye check proved to be a pivotal moment in her journey toward diagnosis and treatment.

Following the discovery of the tumor in October 2023, Alison underwent a 14-hour operation to remove the mass, followed by a period of recovery marked by temporary double vision.

Now, Alison undergoes regular MRI and CT scans every six months to monitor her condition, supported by her husband and four grown children whom she affectionately describes as "amazing."

Alison remains steadfast in her determination to stay positive and resilient saying, "I'm one of these parents where I hold this family together. I'm like the sticking plaster and I said if I fall apart then the whole family will fall apart. So, I just had to stay positive and keep going. It wasn't about me, it was about them."