Martin O’Connell initially didn’t think anything of it
A father who initially brushed off a symptom in his arm decided to take action after it continued. It turned out to be the right decision, as the muscle twitches in his right arm led to a stage 4 cancer diagnosis and he was warned he wouldn’t “see Christmas” without urgent treatment.
Martin O’Connell, 54, experienced a spasm in his right arm on the morning of August 11, 2025, but initially thought nothing of it. However, after a second spasm occurred, he headed to Charing Cross A&E, where medics carried out tests and decided to keep him in overnight.
The next day, Martin underwent multiple MRI scans where doctors discovered he had a brain tumour – and without treatment, he wouldn’t survive Christmas. Several days later, Martin had surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible before beginning six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The father-of-three has now finished the six weeks of treatment and is awaiting news on his next steps.
Martin, a window cleaner from Hammersmith, London, said: “One of the surgeons told me that if I had waited any longer, there is a chance I could not have seen this Christmas. If I didn’t act on those spasms, who knows what might have happened.
“The first time it happened I ignored it, but once I got them a second time, I acted on that – and I am grateful that I did. Before that, I had no other symptoms and since then I haven’t experienced a spasm.”
Following the two spasms, Martin went directly to Charing Cross A&E, where he was kept in overnight for monitoring. Martin explained: “When I first had the spasm in the morning it lasted around 20 minutes and then I got a numbness in my right hand for 20 minutes afterwards. Around 2pm in the afternoon it happened a second time and that is when I decided to go to the hospital.”
The next day, Martin had several MRI scans and medics were able to establish that Martin had a brain tumour. Doctors informed Martin it was probably a glioblastoma – a rapidly-growing, aggressive form of brain cancer – and he required immediate surgery, without which he might not make it to Christmas.
Martin said: “They told me that the MRI scans had shown that I had a brain tumour and it was stage four cancer. They told me I needed surgery in the next few days.
“In that moment I only had positive thoughts and that is how I have been throughout this. I just thought I had this challenge now and this is where we are; this is what I am going to do.”
Medics managed to remove as much of the tumour as they could and Martin began chemotherapy and radiotherapy straight away. The six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy have finished and Martin is currently awaiting the next steps.
Martin added: “I am off chemotherapy and radiotherapy now and I am having a month off treatment. On December 9 I have a meeting with the doctors to see what my next steps are.”
A family friend has launched a GoFundMe for Martin, his wife Jacqui, 53, and their daughters, Megan, Annie and Grace. As neither Martin nor Jacqui are able to work currently, all funds raised will be used for basic living expenses.
Martin said: “We are eternally grateful for everyone who has donated – every donation has been overwhelming. We are all very very grateful to everyone who has helped, the support has been incredible.”