Woman diagnosed deadly brain tumour after doctors noticed her strange smile

December 18, 2015 22:34

A woman has been diagnosed with an aggressive and deadly brain tumour after doctors noticed her smile was lopsided.

Thaline Moreira da Silva, who was studying in Australia, visited hospital three times with intense headaches and vomiting but was told it was just a migraine.

It wasn't until the 30-year-old collapsed that doctors noticed her asymmetrical smile and realised she had mild paralysis in her face.

She was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive brain tumours - grade IV Glioblastoma Multiforme - and rushed for emergency surgery to save her life.

After recovering, she was dealt another blow - her health insurance wouldn't cover a second operation or the radiotherapy and chemotherapy she would need to fight the cancer.

Unable to fly back to her home in Brazil, she set up a fundraising campaign to desperately raise money, and was overwhelmed when strangers donated more than $97,000 (£65,000) to cover her treatment.

Recalling her diagnosis, Ms da Silva said: 'On November 21 I woke up with a shocking headache - I went to the bathroom and vomited and by this stage I'd lost around 8kg [18lbs].

'On my way back from the bathroom to my bed, I lost my balance and collapsed over my coffee table.

'I was taken back to the hospital and they noticed I had some mild paralysis on my left side, with an asymmetrical smile, which was very unusual for me.

'I was rushed into emergency surgery, recovered and had multiple appointments with many different doctors.'

Glioblastoma multiforme are one of the most deadly types of brain cancer.

Ms da Silva was determined to fight the disease and had a second operation scheduled for December 17.

But she was alarmed to find her insurance didn't cover the cost of the treatment she desperately needed.

Originally from Brazil, she was too unwell to make the journey home, and so set up a GoFundMe page to pay for her treatment.

In just 12 days, thousands of kind strangers donated more than $97,000 (£65,000) which she will use to fund her second operation.

It will also pay for radiotherapy and chemotherapy, anti-nausea tablets to battle the side-effects and recovery physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

She said she will donate any excess money to the Cancer Council of Australia to help others in her situation.

Overwhelmed by others' kindness, she thanked all the people who had donated, saying the money has given her a 'second chance' at life.

She said: 'It fills me up of love, gratitude and motivation, the messages of encouragement, I read them all and I treasure them.

'The happiness and hope that I feel from this was so overwhelming the first few days that I could not help but cry with a big smile on my face.

'I hope everyone who donated knows that if wasn't for them I wouldn't have this second chance of life.'

'So thank you to all of them and God bless them all - I promise to make them proud. I'm ready to fight against the cancer.'

Although Ms da Silva has remained in Australia, her older sister flew in from Brazil last week and they will be joined by their parents in January.

Her sister has been cooking for her every day, which makes her feel like she has 'a bit of home in Australia'.

She also thanked her friends for helping her through her illness.

She said: 'I'm so blessed, I have some very good friends in Australia who have really become like a second family to me.

'I think this has been really important too because my parents are so far away.

'I know my mum and dad have found a lot of comfort knowing that I have been in good hands since this all began.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer and facing the daunting prospect of surgery on her brain, Ms da Silva has remained positive.

She said: 'You try not to think about the surgery but of course you cannot help but think you might die.

'The majority of the time I have been very positive.

'You need to have a moment where you just breakdown and cry because it's all part of accepting what's going on.

'You realise crying over it all won't help as well, so when you wake up in the morning you are ready to push forward with everything else and face this head on.

'So if you catch me off guard, with a secret camera, chances are you'll still see me smiling.'

For more information, visit Ms da Silva's GoFundMe page.