A grandad-of-two who has been battling rare brain cancer for almost a decade has experienced his lifelong dream thanks to the generosity of strangers.
Chris Shade originally went to his doctor in 2017 as he was suffering from tinnitus and was hearing a constant, high-pitched noise which was “driving him up the wall”.
He was also experiencing “funny turns”, could smell burning and was sometimes struggling to speak, but he put it down to his concern for his son, Craig, who was in Afghanistan with the RAF.
However, his GP urgently referred the dad-of-two to Maidstone hospital for a brain scan to further investigate his symptoms.
It was there that medics found a “massive” grade two tumour on Chris’ right frontal lobe, and he was told he had a rare type of cancer known as oligodendroglioma, and it was terminal.
The 58-year-old said: “Never in my life did I think I was going to have a brain tumour. I did not even have any headaches.
“I took the diagnosis on the chin and said, ‘So what happens next?’. I thought, ‘Bring it on, I am ready for the fight. ’
“In some ways, I have to thank God for the tinnitus, as if I had not gone to the GP about my hearing, we would never have found it.”
In March 2017, Craig underwent emergency surgery at King’s College Hospital in London to remove the tumour, which was the first of many operations.
His daughter Emma Welsh said: “I cannot tell you what a worrying, distressing time this was. By some miracle, the amazing doctors were able to remove it, and Dad was home before we knew it.
“It was all such a shock, I do not think any of us had time to take it in.”
However, two weeks later, Chris was admitted back into the hospital as a serious infection had set in, which led to two more brain surgeries to remove part of his skull, known as a bone flap, and then fit a titanium plate to replace the missing part.
His wife of 40 years, Tina Shade, said: “It was touch and go at that point. Every surgery, we did not know if he was going to make it.”
Emma added: “We nearly lost him. The stress and upset again are hard to describe, but we had to stay hopeful and strong for Dad.”
At the end of 2020, Chris, of Garner Drive, East Malling, was then given the “devastating” news that another tumour had started to grow and underwent further surgery to remove it.
Six months after the operation, the former instrument coordinator at Somerfield Hospital, in Maidstone, was told a third tumour had been found.
His doctors decided not to put Chris through further surgery as it was growing slowly, and monitored his condition, telling him to go and make memories with his family.
Instead, Chris underwent 10 months of treatment, including six weeks of radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy, to shrink the tumour, which finished earlier this year.
He said: “I have had some dark days, but I know there are people who are facing something worse than me. Although it does not make my pain any easier.
“The treatments are to extend my life; they cannot cure me. The doctors say it is like putting the tumours to sleep, and because it has worked, we know what to hit it with each time.
“I do not know how long I have. I could have one year, five years, or 15 years. I have had every scan and treatment they can offer me.
“I have the fight in me. There are a lot of people who might not get the time to fight it like I have, so I have to while I can.
“I hope my story gives people hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You can fight this.”
Tina added: “I am really proud of him for what he has gone through and that he is still here. We have had dark days, but we always try to stay positive and laugh.
“It has been life-changing. Now, we are focusing on making memories and using the time we have been given.”
During his battle, his family started a GoFundMe page to help raise money to pay for Chris to experience his lifelong dream of flying in a Spitfire at Biggin Hill.
They raised more than £3,000. However, due to his surgeries they had to postpone the flight for several years and also wait for him to lose five and a half stone, which he had gained during treatments, to go up in the plane.
However, last month, Chris, who has been helped by Brain Tumour Support and Tonbridge-based charity Babons Cancer Support, was able to fly in a WWII plane.
The former part-time firefighter has now thanked everyone who donated.
He said: “It was an amazing day, I cannot express it. It was a bucket list experience.
“I am so grateful to all the people who donated and came along on the day. Everyone was so generous.”
