A SUPERMARKET worker from York says she is lucky to be alive, after she needed six life-threatening brain operations in 11 months.
Michelle Howe, 50, of Rawcliffe, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at York’s Nuffield Hospital after returning home from a holiday in Turkey suffering from severe headaches.
Doctors removed a two-inch tumour from Michelle’s brain, but she suffered a number of complications after the operation and had to undergo a further five gruelling operations.
One of Michelle’s doctors said he hopes to use her as a medical case study, as it is so rare to have the string of complications she suffered.
A final procedure to remove and replace a four square inch part of her skull was successfully carried out three weeks ago.
Michelle, the personnel manager at Morrison’s in Foss Islands Road, said: “What has happened is unlucky, but I feel extremely lucky I am still here.
“I am so thankful to my husband and all of my friends who have been so supportive.
“Being in hospital made me realise that there is always someone worse off than yourself.
“It has been life changing in respect of the priorities I now have in my life.”
After being diagnosed with a large benign brain tumour in York, the tumour was removed by specialist doctors in Hull Royal Infirmary in May 2010.
But Michelle had to be rushed into surgery again when a blood clot was discovered.
She then suffered an epileptic fit and doctors found fluid on her brain resulting in two further procedures.
To treat Michelle, doctors removed a section of her skull and then replaced it with a bone substitute imported from Italy.
She is now recovering from her operations at the home she shares with husband Mark, 48, in Rawcliffe Croft.
She said: “All the time I have been in Hull Hospital they have been so patient and supportive.
“They are so good at treating people as individuals particularly on Ward 4 and Ward 40. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr O’Reilly my neurosurgeon and to my employers.”
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