Nia Jones and Luke Taylor (Image: Nia Jones/SWNS)
A father was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour after being told his headaches and sickness were « just migraines » for 10 years. Luke Taylor, 27, had been enduring severe head pain for a decade, accompanied by frequent bouts of sickness and vomiting.
He stated that he consistently visited his GP and alleges he was informed he was « healthy » and his symptoms were « just migraines ». However, in July 2025 his symptoms began to worsen significantly, as he started experiencing sickness and suffering from migraines multiple times daily.
He insisted on an MRI scan and the results revealed that Luke had a haemangioblastoma – an extremely rare brain tumour that can proliferate throughout the brain and spinal cord. Luke underwent a nine-hour brain surgery to excise the tumour at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, and was informed that surgeons were able to remove all of it. Now, Luke will have scans on his eye, brain, spine and body every six months for the next decade to monitor any recurrence.
Luke, a civil engineer from Warrington, Cheshire, said: « When you get news like that, you go into yourself. Your mind races, you don’t want to speak to anyone, you think your life is done.
« I was 26 when I was diagnosed. I had the rest of my life ahead of me, I have a daughter, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to tell my family.
Luke Taylor, 27, had been suffering from horrendous pain in his head for a decade and would also experience sickness (Image: Nia Jones/SWNS)
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« They said if I didn’t have emergency surgery, I could have days to live. I thought I was going to die. »
After enduring migraines for a decade, Luke visited his GP and requested an MRI scan. Initially, Luke maintains, doctors informed him it wasn’t required, but he persevered and arranged a scan at Warrington Hospital.
« One day, I was fed up with my headaches – they were getting worse and worse – I wanted to cry with the pain, » he said. « I went to the doctors and they told me I was having really bad migraines, but that didn’t make sense. I was being sick, I was in severe pain, and I said I wanted to have an MRI scan. »
In July 2025, Luke was diagnosed with a haemangioblastoma. By the time of diagnosis, the tumour had expanded to such an extent – larger than a golf ball – that Luke was informed he had merely days to live without emergency surgery.
Luke Taylor in hospital (Image: Nia Jones/SWNS)
Within a week, he underwent a nine-hour operation at Walton Hospital to remove the tumour. Regrettably, it did not proceed as planned and resulted in a brain haemorrhage, meaning he had to undergo additional emergency surgery the following day.
Luke’s partner, Nia Jones, 26, a business operations specialist, said: « I saw Luke after his operation – he was very erratic. He was slurring his words and couldn’t open his eyes. Then a day after the surgery, we were told he had a bleed on the brain and had to go back in for emergency surgery. »
After 18 days in hospital Luke was discharged and had to relearn how to walk, speak and use his hands following the double surgery. Nia revealed: « What followed were some of the hardest months. Luke had to relearn how to walk, speak again and use his hands.
« He couldn’t dress himself or even cut up his own food. Every day was frustrating, exhausting and emotional – for both of us – but we were determined to do everything possible to help him recover. »
In November 2025, Luke was given the uplifting news that the operation had been successful and doctors had managed to remove the entire tumour. He will now undergo scans on his eye, brain, spine and body every six months for the next decade.
« I was overwhelmed when they told me the surgery was successful, » Luke admitted. « I cried my eyes out, I was so happy they got it all. »
On July 18, 2026, Nia, Luke, his sister Leah, and her partner Gary, will tackle the three Yorkshire peaks in a single day to raise funds for the Brain Tumour Charity.
Nia and Luke will raise money for charity this summer (Image: Nia Jones/SWNS)
Nia said: « We have gone through a lot with the family. We wanted to raise money for the charity that has supported us throughout and show support to others. We want to show people that there is light at the end of the tunnel and people can get through this. »
Joanna Moss, director of services at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: « Faster diagnosis of brain tumours is vital. That’s why The Brain Tumour Charity works with healthcare professionals to increase their confidence in recognising signs and symptoms, and in referring for scans if they are at all concerned. »
Donations can be made via Nia’s JustGiving page.
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