Vicky Fleetwood, an England rugby winner, and husband Tom Chapman were left heartbroken following the discovery of the incurable illness.
Tom had a massive seizure aged 31 two weeks after their honeymoon and was given just five years to live.
Having been given the devastating prognosis in April, the pair are now on an IVF journey to fulfil their “desperate” dreams of becoming parents.
Tom, a former Worcester Warriors and Blackheath player, now a coach, said: “My prognosis is five years, which, when you’re 31, fit and healthy, and newly married, isn’t what you expect to hear.
“What was meant to be the start of the rest of our lives together turned into a nightmare.”
The A&E doctors initially thought Tom had suffered a stroke, but a CT scan at University Hospital Lewisham confirmed he had a tumour on his brain, thought to be a grade 2 glioma.
Despite undergoing a successful 10-hour operation to remove the tumour in April, tests revealed the tumour was in fact a grade 4 astrocytoma—the most aggressive form of this type of brain cancer.
World Cup-winning England rugby star, Vicky said: “We got married, we’d been on honeymoon, and having a baby was the next part of our story, the next chapter for us – or so we thought.
“We knew I’d never have a baby while I was still playing rugby, so this was our time.”
Following the prognosis and the prospect of fertility issues due to treatment, the couple quickly decided to start down the IVF route to have a baby together.
Vicky added: “We desperately want a baby together and it will give Tom another reason to fight this disease.
“I want him beside me for all the milestones – first steps, first words, first day at school.”
Despite undergoing combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Tom maintained his exercise regime and continued to coach rugby at Old Colfeians RFC.
He and Vicky also took part in a 24-hour challenge to raise £20,000 for Brain Tumour Research to help fund vital work being carried out at the charity’s network of Centres of Excellence where scientists are dedicated to finding a cure.
Tom and Vicky have now been named as Ambassadors for the charity Brain Tumour Research.
More than 100,000 people are estimated to be living with a brain tumour or the long-term impact of their diagnosis, yet the disease remains chronically underfunded.
Tom said: “The problem is, brain tumour patients often don’t have the luxury of time, which is why investment in research needs to happen now.
“At the moment, it feels like a one-size-fits-all approach, but patients aren’t all starting from the same point. I refuse to be defined by an average.”
