Doncaster man Martin has walked down the aisle months after life-saving surgery to reduce his brain tumour

A Doncaster computer programmer who was able to marry his fiancée after being diagnosed with a brain tumour has thanked the hospital staff who treated him.
Brain surgery patient thanks hospital staff after tying the knotBrain surgery patient thanks hospital staff after tying the knot
Brain surgery patient thanks hospital staff after tying the knot

Martin Milan, aged 44, married wife Rachel just weeks after undergoing a major operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible.

After recovering remarkably well from the eight-hour surgery at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, he and Rachel were able to marry the following month.

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Martin, who has a five-year-old daughter and 11-year-old step daughter, said: “Despite my illness, for now I just feel amazingly lucky, almost indecently lucky, to be where I am.

“We’ve had a frantic time sorting out for the wedding, but it has been a wonderful focus and distraction for both Rachel and myself.

“It was a wonderful day, and it showed that we were staying together no matter what we faced.”

Martin first realised something was wrong when he had vision problems at work, and his family persuaded him he should go to A&E.

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When he was there he mixed up the hospital with a hotel, and was sent for a scan as doctors thought he may have suffered a stroke.

An MRI scan revealed that in fact he had a brain tumour, and he was referred to the Royal Hallamshire for treatment.

With the support of family and friends, he decided to go ahead and have surgery the very next day.

He said: “My experience with the surgery has been absolutely incredible, and I have done incredibly well. Apparently upon completion of the surgery there could have been a need to have me retrained in how to walk and talk for example, but this simply hasn’t been needed.

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“ I’m talking normally, thinking normally, and my walking is fine. In fact, I almost feel guilty about being off work because I feel okay.

“The care has been fantastic, not only the surgery but also the nursing.

“ All the way through everything was discussed and all in a way I was happy with.

“ They gave me space to handle things my way. It has completely changed my perception of nursing and hospital care.

“ I was absolutely blown away by it.”

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Following the wedding and a holiday with the children in Devon, Martin has now commenced radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Weston Park Hospital.

He added : “From a personal point of view I am not scared. As a programmer I am used to finding a problem and then trying to find way to solve it.

“I worry about the impact on Rachel and my girls.

“ We have told the children them that there is something wrong with daddy’s head, and that the doctors and nurses are helping to look after it.”

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