BRAVE REAL LIFE
Alison Haspell, 51, from Northwich, went in for a routine eye test when her life changed...
Heading into my local opticians, I was booked in for a routine eye check.
I’d had no sight problems, but I hadn’t had an eye test since 2019.
So Idecided it was time. As abusy mum and grandma, taking care of my family –husband Scott, 54, children Ben, 35, Ashley, 34, Stephan, 31, Jessica, 29, and grandchildren Logan, five, and one-year-old Patrick –always took priority.
But on 21 October last year, I headed to my appointment and after the usual tests, Iwas sent into another room.
Putting my head into a device that looked like atoilet bowl, the optician flashed a light behind my eyes.
‘I’m going to refer you to the eye hospital for further tests,’ he told me. ‘I don’t believe you need glasses, but the hospital will be in touch in the next couple of weeks.’ ‘Sure,’ I replied.
Having not been for an eye test for quite some time, I assumed that was normal.
‘Don’t worry, I don’t think it’s cancer,’ he continued.
Oh, what astrange thing to say, I thought.
But putting it to the back of my mind, it didn’t bother me.
And telling Scott later that day, Ikept my cool. I didn’t believe anything was wrong.
And two days later, I received acall from Leighton Hospital asking me to come in for further tests. Scott drove me to my appointment but when we got to the car park, there were no spaces.
‘I’ll find somewhere to park and be with you,’ Scott promised.
The car park was so rammed, Iended up doing the whole appointment alone.
With lots of different vision tests, the doctor seemed concerned. ‘I’ve seen something behind your eyes, we need to do aCT scan,’ he said. But he didn’t explain what he’d seen.
And waiting for 20 minutes to be taken to the scan, I felt overwhelmed.
It was not knowing what the doctor had seen that made me feel so anxious.
What is it? Is it serious? Am Igoing to die? I couldn’t bear it.
I’d thought Iwas fine, but now knowing something was wrong –but not knowing what –it was too much. Overwhelmed, Iwalked out of my appointment.
‘Where are you?’ Irang Scott. ‘I’m done now.’
‘What did they say?’ Scott asked, pulling up.
‘Oh nothing,’ I replied, switching my phone on silent.
And Scott didn’t push it any further. Doing my best to stay calm, I think my demeanour had reassured him.
But back at home, Ihad 15 missed calls from the hospital.
Something’s got to be wrong, I thought, calling them back.
‘Alison, you need to come back, it’s urgent,’ Iwas told. I felt my world crumble. Iknew that I shouldn’t hav
