Julie Mccullough, 58, was rushed to hospital after she suffered ‘intense pain’ in her left arm and ‘severe headaches’ and went into spasm – but worse was to come
A woman who discovered she had a brain tumour after complaining of severe headaches was left heartbroken after losing her husband to the devastating disease just six months later.
Julie Mccullough, 58, was struck by “intense pain” in her arm and “severe headaches” leading to spasms that prompted an emergency CT scan, which uncovered two brain tumours. Two weeks later she underwent surgery, with doctors removing the larger of the tumours.
Julie was diagnosed with meningioma and still faces and uncertain future. But just two months after the surgery Julie’s husband Robert, 66, collapsed at her mum’s home and was rushed to hospital. Devastatingly, a CT scan confirmed that he had a large brain tumour.
The whole family were left heartbroken when Robert was given a prognosis of just two months to live and passed away in July 2023. Julie, a former nurse from Newtownards, Northern Ireland, said: “I was numb and in pure shock. My brain just couldn’t cope with the news that this horrifying disease had caught both of us in the same short space of time.”
Julie was on the way to see her mum, Ireane, 77, in January 2023 when she felt ill. She said: “I was driving to my mum’s house when I suddenly felt incredibly sick.
“I had to lie down, and then an intense pain shot down my left arm, which went into spasm. My mum called an ambulance. My blood pressure was through the roof, and I could barely speak. The paramedics thought it might be a heart attack or a stroke, so I was rushed to A&E.”
Julie underwent treatment at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Her recovery was difficult as she “struggled to walk, speak, and even write” and was heavily dependant on her mum, Ireane, for support – who later moved in with her.
Julie said: “When they contacted my husband, Robert, he just lightly said to keep him informed, which was so unlike him.” As Julie fought to recover, Robert began to show worrying signs himself, with mood swings and behavioural changes. After collapsing at Ireane’s home, he too was rushed to A&E and diagnosed with a large brain tumour.
“For them to also say that my Robert, my rock for so many years, only had two months left to live was unbelievable,” Julie said. “The consultant said we’d be only extending his life a little longer with chemotherapy, so we decided against it and went home to be together with the time we had left.”
Robert’s health deteriorated quickly, and he spent his last days at home, cared for by local nurses and Julie, who never left his side. He passed away peacefully in July 2023. Julie said: “I had a wonderful life with Robert, but in six months, everything changed. Job lost, husband died, health gone.”
Left grieving, Julie faces her own uncertain future with the support of her mother. She still experiences ongoing seizures and as a result she is unable to return to her nursing career.
Instead, the former nurse is channelling her energy into this month’s 99 Miles in November challenge to help raise awareness for the Brain Tumour Research charity. Julie said: “I want to make sure that no one else has to go through this, so each step we take to raise awareness is in his memory. We may not be able to complete the full 99 miles, but we’ll do what we can and I know he’d be proud.”
Brain tumours kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer, yet just 1% of the national spending on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002. Ashley McWilliams, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Julie’s story is a powerful reminder of the indiscriminate nature of brain tumours and the resilience of those impacted.
“We’re incredibly moved by her strength and commitment, even in the face of such personal tragedy. The funds Julie raises will help us work towards finding a cure and offer hope to the 16,000 people diagnosed with brain tumours each year in the UK.”
