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An English man initially thought he was suffering from the flu before receiving a life-altering diagnosis and being given a year to live.
Kieran Shingler, 26, from Warrington, U.K., began experiencing symptoms like headaches, a sore throat, and a runny nose in November 2022. Initially, he attributed his illness to the flu or COVID, but a negative test led to worsening symptoms, including an inability to retain food, according to the Manchester Evening News.
An emergency CT scan at Warrington Hospital resulted in Shingler being moved to The Walton Centre in Liverpool, where he underwent four significant brain surgeries, including an emergency operation on Christmas Day of that year. A GoFundMe page reported that he was unexpectedly diagnosed with a high-grade cancerous brain tumor when he was 23.
Following a biopsy at The Walton Centre, doctors identified Shingler’s tumor as a grade three astrocytoma, a type of tumor that begins in the brain or spinal cord. After consulting with an oncologist on January 5, 2023, he underwent 30 sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy over the next month, which successfully reduced the tumor’s size.
In June, an update on GoFundMe revealed that after 19 months without treatment, Shingler’s tumor had begun to grow again. Reflecting on his experience, he expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from friends and family, especially his mother and partner, Abbie Henstock, particularly after losing his mom the previous year.
Henstock remarked that Shingler’s health had declined significantly, noting his inability to eat and severe headaches. An MRI revealed that the tumor was obstructing fluid flow to his spine, necessitating an emergency procedure. Shingler underwent multiple surgeries, including a craniotomy and the fitting of a permanent shunt shortly after receiving his diagnosis.
After learning that his tumor was regrowing, Shingler has resumed chemotherapy. The funds raised through GoFundMe have enabled his family to acquire equipment aimed at enhancing his recovery and assisting with short-term memory loss. As of August 5, the campaign had collected over $36,000, with updates on his condition awaiting further communication.
