A father believed his exhaustion, headaches and blurred vision were simply a sign he needed new glasses. Shane Crommer, 35, from Nottingham, first noticed the symptoms in autumn 2025.

Initially, he attributed the tiredness and headaches to juggling a hectic life with his wife Laura and their 20-month-old son, Elijah, and thought his vision issues were due to an out-of-date glasses prescription. However, after experiencing memory lapses and falling while attempting to lift his son, a CT scan uncovered a mass on his brain.

A biopsy subsequently confirmed a rare diffuse midline glioma, an aggressive tumour typically found in children. The father underwent surgery to reduce pressure in his brain caused by blocked fluid before completing 30 sessions of radiotherapy.

• 'Medieval' rash sweeping UK 'misdiagnosed' and 'resistant to treatment'


• Tiredness could be early warning sign of hearing loss

He is now backing the launch of the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham - alongside outpatients, politicians, civic dignitaries, charity leaders and scientists.

Shane, a fitness influencer, said: "I was just tired all the time. But I explained it away. I told myself I'd be fine. I thought my vision problems were nothing serious, I assumed my prescription needed updating, as I'd worn glasses most of my life.

"I'd lose my keys, feel less sharp and sometimes just forget what I was doing. Each symptom on its own felt insignificant, but looking back, they were all connected."

His wife Laura noticed the changes in her husband. He revealed: "She says it was weeks, possibly even a couple of months, of me being more tired and less 'on it' than usual. I'm not someone who complains, so I carried on, took paracetamol, tried to rest and told myself I'd be fine."

By October 2025, Shane's balance had started to deteriorate and the headaches had evolved into a relentless pressure behind his eye and ear. His first port of call was the urgent treatment centre at Queen's Medical Centre, where he was discharged with migraine medication.

"I was still exhausted, struggling with my vision, and unsteady," Shane recalled. He even took a tumble while attempting to pick up Elijah, and when it occurred once more, he booked an urgent GP appointment.

He added: "When it happened again, Laura knew it couldn't be ignored."

Shane was rushed back to hospital, where a CT scan uncovered a mass on his brain. Additional imaging revealed multiple tumours, and a biopsy subsequently confirmed a rare diffuse midline glioma.

Shane said: "The reality hit hard. The hardest part wasn't thinking about myself. It was thinking about Laura and Elijah and what it would mean not to be here for them."

In October 2025, Shane had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy to ease pressure in his brain caused by blocked fluid. After that procedure, he went through 30 sessions of radiotherapy.

He said: "Fatigue has been the hardest thing to deal with. After breakfast with Elijah, I'm shattered and need to lie down.

"I've had to learn to listen to my body and rest, so I can still be present later in the day. It's frustrating because it's not the life I'm used to."

Currently he is being evaluated for a clinical trial involving ONC201, an experimental drug aimed at mutant diffuse gliomas, and has contributed tissue from his biopsy for genetic research.

Shane added: "It may not help me directly, but if it helps someone else in the future, it matters."

Shane and Laura are sharing their journey to raise awareness about brain tumours and urge people to trust their instincts.

"If something doesn't feel right, speak up. Trust the people close to you who notice changes. Ask questions and request further investigation," advised Shane.

"Brain tumours don't discriminate. Families deserve better options, better treatments and better hope than currently exists."

He is also backing the launch of the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham. A £2.6 million investment from the charity Brain Tumour Research will enable researchers to embark on a pioneering study to understand and treat glioblastoma.

He said: "Knowing there will be a centre focused on high-grade brain tumours, that can back the work of researchers and raise awareness, is really meaningful. If telling our story helps raise awareness, encourages funding, or helps someone else get answers sooner, it's worth it."

Shane has learned to concentrate on the present.

He said: "I used to push forward constantly. Now my focus is on enjoying time with my wife and my son and not letting my mind live too far into the future."

If Shane's story has moved you, donations can be made at www.braintumourresearch.org/donate, or a legacy gift can be left at www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy

Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: "Seeing patients, families, researchers, and supporters come together for the launch of the Nottingham Centre of Excellence is incredibly powerful. This centre represents exactly what our supporters' fundraising makes possible, world-class research with a clear focus on improving outcomes for patients.

"We are bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real patient benefit. The Nottingham Centre strengthens our national network and brings us closer to our ultimate goal of finding a cure for all brain tumours."