Our eldest and only daughter Jodie was very seldom ill. When she began to suffer from severe headaches it was not the norm. She was a very out-going girl, ambitious and full of life with loads of plans to travel and be successful. A keen fitness fanatic, she went to the gym in her lunch hour, had represented the Northants County in swimming, netball and hockey before going off to study for a degree in Business and Marketing at the Manchester Metropolitan University. She was never one to sit on her laurels, always on the go, working hard in the many part-time jobs she had to maintain her desire for “Labels” & Partying.
Jodie and her partner Paul had just bought their first house and were due to move in the same week as she had her first scan.
Jodie had been suffering from headaches for the past 6 months, no medication seemed to relieve her from the pain. She had been to the local GP and was told that it was migraine and he could do nothing about it. We were not satisfied with his diagnosis and as Jodie was in BUPA through her position at Carlsberg, Northampton, she decided to have a second opinion. An MRI scan was the result of that consultation. The day before our beautiful daughter’s 24th birthday, Jodie and I went to the BUPA hospital in Leicester to receive the results of her MRI scan. In no way was I expecting or even prepared for the words “Brain Tumour”. Not sure if her father or I had even thought about the results of such a simple thing as a headache changing Jodie’s and our life so dramatically.
We returned to see the surgeon the very next day en masse for support. Unfortunately the surgeon pulled no punches and told us that Jodie had an astrocytoma behind the optic nerve and in front of the motor neurone nerve. His diagnosis was to extract as much of the tumour as he could then review the situation. Because of the tumour’s position complete extraction was impossible, even part extraction could lead to blindness or paralysis. As it was the operation left her without either but with epilepsy. Trevor her father, Sam her brother, Paul her partner and I were in pieces, but Jodie said okay let’s get on with it. She was still laughing and joking on the gurney on the way to the operating theatre. Amazing!
Jodie never complained just got on with every day, whatever it brought. Her strength was amazing and her outlook was an inspiration to us all. She returned to work after a year of struggling to reach a balance with her epilepsy medication. Throughout that year she had constantly suffered regular auras and mini seizures so returning to work was a really big step for her to resume some form of normality even though the days were very long. Having had her driving licence taken from her, her dad used to pick her up every day and collect her from work which was a great opportunity for some father daughter bonding and Trev was really pleased that he spent that time with her.
After a year Jodie was made redundant, then at a routine check found out that the tumour had begun to grow again. Radiotherapy was the next option, which once again she took in her stride. Another curve ball she would say “Bring it on and I’ll bat it away”. And to all intents and purposes she did with a smile on her face. Like many, during the treatment her hair began to fall out so she shaved it all off and looked stunning. She thought it was great not having to colour her hair and spend all that time at the hairdresser every month.
After the Radiotherapy, Jodie was doing really well and working towards being seizure free for a year and had applied to have her driving licence reinstated. Paul had brought her a car and she was really looking forward to getting behind the wheel and some independence back. She craved to be off out clubbing with her mates and dancing the night away.
In 2006 she did so much we all thought that the radiotherapy had suppressed the growth of the tumour. Jodie was bright, lively and energetic. She glowed with health and had started to put on weight. She had reduced her medications and was still seizure free. One of my fondest memories of her was dancing in a nightclub called the “Caramel Bar” in Monte Carlo, we were on a hen weekend. She looked like a model all dolled up, dancing away, smiling and laughing, it was a picture to watch.
Not only was she my daughter but my best friend. As a family we had grown so close. Don’t get me wrong Jodie growing up did all the usual stuff teenagers do and sometimes more. Her father and I went through every emotion as a parent but we were always there for her. She drove us to distraction but she was our daughter and when she was gone she left a big hole in our lives. We miss her terribly, some days more than others. Then we remember how brave she was, which brings us back to “Jodie wouldn’t want us to be like this”.
In October 2006 the dreaded headaches returned. The final scan revealed that the tumour had defused throughout the brain and the prognosis was not good. The consultant tried chemo’ tablets but he didn’t expect them to work. At the end of the second week of the chemo’ I picked up Jodie to bring her back home as Paul her partner was off to Lapland with his children to see Father Christmas. Jodie was not feeling well, we all thought it was the chemo’. That night she fell asleep and never woke up. She passed away with her dignity intact and all her faculties, which although sudden and unexpected was a blessing.
She never gave up and fought until the very end. Even on that fateful Friday she was thinking of others, apologising for being a pain, causing a fuss. If only we had known. We would give anything to have another hour with her to tell her how proud we were of her. How much pleasure she had brought us during her 28 years and how much we all loved her. But that will never happen but every day she is in our thoughts and she will never be forgotten. We feel blessed to have had the honour of being her parents and Sam her brother and were fortunate that Jodie had 28 years with us. Sam has lost his big sister, his confidante and mentor. He will always remember her, as she was, a fighter to the end.
Although the brain tumour took her in the end it never ever took away her fighting spirit. That remains with us, giving us the strength to carry on. Knowing that she has no more headaches and is at peace, pain free. A star in the night shinning brightly, watching over for us to see.
With the help of all our family and friends we intend to raise money for Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust in Jodie’s memory so that something positive can come from our tremendous loss. Check out the memory website, for more details of the fund raising events and pictures of those involved.
Heather, Trevor & Sam Adams
Jodie’s proud family.
Fundraising News
2010
A friend of Heather’s has launched a lovely new teddy bear, with a generous 10% of sales going to SDBTT! Please see the Memory Chest Bear website for more information.
2009
The Hippo Hike – Talk to the tail theme
This took place in 29th March 2009, and over 100 people participated and raised over £5,000. Both the ‘talk to the tail’ and the SDBTT Jodie adams logo were placed on back packs that we gave away to all walkers. We still have some of the back packs left which are £3.00 each plus postage and packaging.
The Hippo Hike started at Jodie’s favourite coffee shop (Glebe Farm Tea Shop, Kettering). The walkers started to congregate at 10am and downed delicious bacon butties before moving off to complete the 8 mile walk. Of we strode on a beautiful morning through Thorpe Malsor, along the Cransley Reservoir, up to the Cransley village where the Three Cranes Pub was opened for refreshments and a comfort break if required. Through the countryside returning to the Glebe Farm Tea shop car park for a well earned BBQ, with burgers and sausages, supplied by The Pit Stop, of Santa Pod Raceways, and cooked by Alan and Les our resident chefs. In addition Waitrose donated 150 bottles of water to the walkers. We hope this will happen again next year, and thanks to everyone for their support.
Nathan’s Half Marathon March 15th 2009
Nathan raised over £700 in this event at Silverstone. Here he tells his story:
“I travelled down with my Mother-in-law (Ann) and Father-in-Law (Billy) in their camper van, along with my supporting team of Daughter (Emmi), Nephew (Riley) and sister-in-law (Gillian).
We arrived at the camp-site with only 45 minutes to spare before the race started. I was told by a local that Silverstone was only a 10 minute walk from the camp site… So I set off to find the race track, some how I must have taking a wrong turn as I found myself in deep woodland and still no sight of the track. I could hear the noise of Silverstone, but had no idea how to get there!! Panic set in as I was now only 20 minutes from start time and running through thick marsh and losing my ipod, which I did manage to find…. I could finally see the track, but had a barb wire fence to tackle, thinking I had no option I scaled the fence and jumped hoping not to catch any important items in the barb wire, like the legs I needed to run the half marathon… Having successfully found the track, I also found that I was at the wrong end, so had to then run half the track to find the entrance… I arrived covered in mud from the waist down with only a couple of minutes to spare, and then god threw me a life line and the announcement came out that the race would be delayed by 20 minutes… I managed to get myself sorted and ready for the race…
Although I felt like I had already done 10 miles, the race went pretty well. They have pace makers, so I joined the 11 minute mile group. Running for a while I believed I had more to give so left the 11 minuters behind and headed off in search of the 10 minute mile group… God knows where they were, and after running for some time I could see a guy with a sign just ahead, I increase my pace and caught up with this group, only to find it was the 11 minute mile group… Some how they must have over taken me without me noticing…haha
We re-entered Silverstone and at last I could see the finish line, and again feeling confident, I increased my pace and again I was fouled as the course I was on was taking me away from the finishing line and I still had to do a full reverse lap of the track… The last mile I was physically running on the spot, or at least it definitely felt like I was… I was determined not to walk and kept going and was the most thankful person to finally cross the line…
Having collected my medal I was very please to see Paul waiting there, I had some chips and a fag… Doesn’t get better than that
My time was 02:18:02, I finished in position 5180, with over 10,000 entries.”
Well done to Nathan, an excellent run and a fantastic fundraising total!!
Waitrose donation
2009 got off to a good start with a donation from Waitrose for £340, as one of their monthly charity donations.
2008
Re-enactment of The Italian Job
This took place in October 2008, and raised £2300.
Sponsored Channel Swim
The boat is booked and so there is no going back! The swim will take place on 23rd June. All the Team have passed their medical and have been training hard in pools.
This week (commencing 5 May) we did our first out door lake swim and this weekend we are off to Dover for sea training.
As you can imagine the sea and lake temperatures are cold, currently about 12/13 degrees.
China Trek
Congratulations to Emma Baker and Hannah Phillips who completed their ten day trek of the Great Wall of China. Emma said ‘ The trip was truly amazing; the views really do take your breath away. When I did find myself struggling I just reminded myself of why I was doing it and had a little think about Jodie.’
So far over £1,200 has been raised for Jodie’s Fund.
To sponsor Emma and Hannah click here.
Hannah and Emma
The Hippo Hike
Over 100 people participated and raised £12,000. The walk covered the route Jodie used to walk her labrador Tetley. It was a huge success!
The weather on the day was perfect and the views were spectacular around the Welland Valley…. The enormous amount raised for such an important cause means a second Hippo Hike for 2008 is all but a certainty.
Heather, Trevor, Sam & Paul would like to thank all walkers and their sponsors for making the first ever Hippo Hike a success.
Carlsberg Employee of the Year
A big Thank you to Bernadette May (who worked with Jodie) she won a £500 donation to charity and nominated SDBTT Jodie Adams Fund to be the recipient.