Committee Member

My name is Barry Taggart, I am 27 years old  and live with my fiancé Toni and our many animals in Drumaness. In January 2022 I was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma (a benign pituitary tumour) following several months of severe headaches, double vision and various other symptoms.

These symptoms followed on from years worth of blood tests and doctors appointments which lead to dead ends. After driving one night and losing sight, I finally went to A and E which resulted in being admitted to ward 4F in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, for three weeks During this 3 weeks, I underwent brain surgery to debulk the tumour as it could not be removed safely and then another surgery to insert a VP shunt and an Omaya reservoir to relieve inter cranial pressure. 6 weeks of intense radiotherapy followed on in April 2022 which was incredibly tough but with the support of my friends, family and the cheeriness of the staff at the City Hospital Cancer Centre, I endured.

The tumour (and my conditions as a result of the tumour) will be monitored by regular MRI scans and follow ups with my Neurology consultant Mr Weir. I am also closely monitored by the Endocrine team and Dr. Mullen, the Endocrine consultant, who has been fantastic in helping me cope with and manage the conditions that have developed as a result to the damage to my endocrine and adrenal systems.

I first heard of Brainwaves NI when I was handed a leaflet on discharge from Ward 4F, and Toni and myself went to an outing at Lisburn Bowl in October 2022 with other members and charity committee members. Here, we were welcomed with incredibly open arms. Since then, both myself and Toni have completed a fundraiser tandem skydive from 15,000ft and I along side my work colleagues, completed an abseil down the Europa Hotel to further raise funds in May 2023.

The support network within Brainwaves NI is next to none and is one of the main reasons that we became members. Toni and I were accepted as committee members in May 2023 and the rest is history, as they say.

Anyone who would like any information regarding Brain Tumours or the work that Brainwaves NI does, either for themselves or a loved one be sure to reach out – we’ll be more than happy to help!