North Devon dad welcomes new son ahead of second Christmas since brain tumour op

A father from Fremington is celebrating the joyous arrival of a baby boy as the perfect gift in the run up to his second Christmas since being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Sean Lowe, 33, is one of the faces of the Brain Tumour Research Christmas Appeal, which is calling on the public to help fund game-changing research this Christmas by making an online donation.

Life was turned upside down for Sean and his wife Yasmine in September 2024 when he had to have emergency brain surgery to remove a brain tumour – initially discovered during a routine optician’s appointment.

READ NEXT: ‘An eye test saved my life’ – North Devon man’s optician visit reveals brain tumour

More than 100,000 people in the UK are estimated to be living with a brain tumour or the long-term impact of their diagnosis, yet research into the disease has been chronically underfunded. 

Above: A scan of the pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumour discovered after Sean went for an optician’s appointment.

This Christmas is particularly special for Sean and his family. Not only is it his second Christmas since being diagnosed, but Sean and Yasmin are also celebrating the arrival of their youngest son Cody in November, who joins Kailan, aged three, in the Lowe household.

Sean said: “This year feels meaningful. After everything that’s happened and welcoming our baby, I feel so grateful.

“Supporting Brain Tumour Research’s Christmas Appeal is my way of giving back, to help ensure others have the same chance I did. Every donation really does make a difference.” 

It all began in June 2024 when Sean started experiencing intermittent headaches, which he attributed to stress from his demanding work schedule and the challenges of caring for a young family.

A routine eye test at the Specsavers branch in Barnstaple Sainsbury’s saved his life when unusual pressure was noticed behind one of his optic nerves and it proved to be an early warning sign of something far more serious.

Sean said: “Initially, I didn’t think much of the headaches, as they seemed to coincide with stressful periods. When the headaches persisted, my family urged me to visit my GP. My GP attributed the headaches to stress and advised me to rest.

“Around the same time, my employer suggested I should have an eye test. I went to my optician, who noticed unusual pressure behind my optic nerve. I was advised to go straight to the hospital.”

Above: Sean had to have a right frontal craniotomy at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

On September 14, Sean had an MRI scan at North Devon District Hospital. Within 30 minutes of the scan, he was called back to the hospital after preliminary results revealed a pilocytic astrocytoma.

Just 14 days after his initial optician’s appointment, Sean underwent a right frontal craniotomy at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, where the tumour was successfully removed. 

Sean added: “I am incredibly lucky I went for an eye test, and fortunate the optician noticed something that could have been easily missed by a GP. I strongly encourage others to make eye tests a regular part of their healthcare routine. It could save your life, like it did mine.”

Above: Sean remained upbeat and positive following his major surgery in Plymouth.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults aged under 40 than any other cancer and more men under 75 than prostate cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to this disease.

Sean said: “The recently announced £2.8million funding from Brain Tumour Research to the University of Plymouth is vital if we are to find a cure. This funding offers real hope to patients and families affected by this devastating disease.”

Brain Tumour Research provides long-term funding to Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence at key academic institutions.

This stable funding enables researchers to deliver on their innovative research which will lead to better treatments and improving outcomes for people affected by brain tumours.

Letty Greenfield, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Sean’s story is a powerful reminder of how crucial it is to stay vigilant when it comes to your health.

“His experience highlights the importance of not dismissing seemingly minor symptoms and of seeking professional advice when something feels off. 

“At Brain Tumour Research, we are constantly advocating for earlier diagnosis and increased awareness about brain tumours, which can often go undetected until it’s too late.

“We commend Sean for being proactive and sharing his journey with others, which helps us all better understand the importance of early detection and the role that eye tests can play in saving lives. We hope Sean’s story inspires others to support our Christmas Appeal.”

If you would like to donate to the Brain Tumour Research Christmas Appeal, please go to https://braintumourresearch.org/pages/give-hope-this-christmas