Amy Carroll, a 34-year-old support worker and mindset coach from Great Addington, Northamptonshire, was eagerly anticipating the birth of her fourth son when she began experiencing fainting spells. Diagnosed with gestational diabetes, she attributed her symptoms to the condition. However, after suffering a seizure in the middle of the night on June 17, she was rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Two days later, CT and MRI scans revealed stage four brain cancer with seven masses on her brain, later confirmed as secondary cancer from the breast cancer she had overcome in 2021.
Emergency c-section and baby's condition
Due to the urgency of treatment, doctors scheduled an emergency c-section on July 6, when Amy was nearly 31 weeks pregnant. Her son, Arlo Atlas Sirus, was born weighing 4lb 2oz and is currently doing well, though he remains on oxygen with cloudy lungs. He is in the high dependency intensive care ward receiving donor breast milk. Amy expressed her joy: 'He is so cute, whenever I see Arlo every worry goes away, I forget I’ve had a c-section and that I’ve got the tumours.'
Cancer discovery and previous battle
Amy had previously beaten breast cancer in 2021, which was discovered after she underwent cosmetic breast surgery following breastfeeding. She said: 'I had my boys quite young, and my boobs looked different, so I went and had breast surgery. That was when I noticed the little lump that turned out to be breast cancer. That cosmetic surgery saved my life.' Her treatment then included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and eight surgeries.
Treatment plan and fears
Amy is preparing for her first round of radiotherapy on July 15, with chemotherapy to follow. She worries about the side effects: 'There are so many potential complications after these surgeries, including memory loss, balance issues, loss of eyesight, inability to talk. I just don’t want to forget my life and my kids.' During chemotherapy, she will be unable to hold her baby due to exhaustion and safety concerns, a prospect she finds devastating.
Family support and fundraising
Her partner Torrin Sirus, 36, has left his job to care for her. Amy's friend Kirsty Wilkinson set up a JustGiving page to support the family. Amy, who has fundraised for others in the past, said: 'I was so shocked and surprised when Kirsty set up my JustGiving. I’ve fundraised for others but never for myself before.' She hopes to create normalcy for her children during the summer holidays, planning a trip to Costa before her general anaesthetic.
