Me and My Occipital Condyle Meningioma: Watch & Wait, Motherhood

Sarah was diagnosed with a Occipital Condylar Meningioma in 2021 while pregnant.Her first symptom was flashing lights — like a migraine aura — while driving home. Because she was pregnant, she went to get checked, and a consultant noticed one pupil was larger than the other. A CT scan followed, and that was when Sarah was diagnosed with a brain tumour.At the time, she had just six weeks left of her pregnancy.Because of the pressure the tumour could place on her brain during labour, Sarah was advised she would need a C-section. Soon after Violet was born, Sarah’s eye closed and she lost sensation down one side of her face. At that stage, doctors decided to monitor the tumour and allow her time to recover and be with her newborn daughter before making a decision about surgery.Over the following year, Sarah remained on watch and wait. When scans showed growth, surgery became necessary to prevent the tumour from affecting her optic nerve and potentially causing permanent vision loss.In this episode, Sarah shares:Being diagnosed while pregnantThe shock of needing a C-section because of a brain tumourBecoming a new mum while living with uncertaintyWatch and wait with a growing meningiomaSurgery and what it was like saying goodbye before going underWaking up and immediately noticing her vision had improvedThe realities of recovery, balance issues and mobility strugglesUsing a wheelchair in the early weeks just to get outsideThe impact of physio and occupational therapyLiving with chronic fatigue and adapting to a new version of lifeStarting a wellbeing business inspired by recoveryWhy Brainstrust became such an important supportHere is Sarah's New Websitehttps://rainbowwithlove.co.uk/Sarah speaks honestly about motherhood, identity, recovery, and rebuilding life after surgery — while still learning how to pace herself physically and emotionally.⚠️ This episode discusses brain tumour diagnosis, surgery, pregnancy, mobility problems and fatigue.