Family pay tribute to Caithness man who died five months after being diagnosed with brain tumour
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A CAITHNESS woman has spoken of her devastation after losing her 52-year-old husband to a brain tumour just five months after he was diagnosed with the disease.
Michael Mackay, who worked for Highland Council, was told he had an aggressive tumour in October last year. He died in March leaving wife, Trish, daughter Leanne (29) and son Mark, who is 22, bereft.
But as a tribute to him, they have decided to take part in a fundraising event for Brain Tumour Research later this month to help generate money for the charity.
Trish, who is 50 and works as a travel administrator at Dounreay, said: "We’re so proud of what we’re doing in Michael’s memory. We love and miss him every day and each step of our challenge will be done with him in our hearts."
She explained that her husband's illness came to light after she noticed his snoring was worsening over a number of weeks. Then one Sunday morning last August it was louder than usual.
Trish said: "I couldn’t believe how loud Michael’s snoring was. He was upstairs in bed and I was downstairs. I grabbed my phone and went up to video him, so I could show him later on. It was only when I approached that I realised he was actually having a seizure."
She called an ambulance and Michael was taken to Caithness General Hospital in Wick. He had a CT scan but it was decided a more detailed MRI scan should be undertaken at Raigmore in Inverness.
However, the results were inconclusive and he saw a consultant neurosurgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary before having a brain biopsy on October 5 last year. After an agonising three-week wait, Michael was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and given three to 12 months to live. But in December, he began a course of chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumour.
Trish said: "Michael was obviously distraught but somehow he stayed strong, accepted his diagnosis and managed to sail through his first two rounds of chemo. He had a week off treatment for Christmas and we enjoyed a wonderful time together as a family. Our daughter Leanne got engaged on Christmas Day. It was lovely but there was an underlying sadness, as we knew this could be our last Christmas with Michael."
To compound the family's sadness, Trish lost her mum, 75-year-old Catherine Macmillan, to Covid-19 in December and when Michael started his next round of chemo, it "completely floored him".
"By the second week in February, he decided he didn’t want another scan or any more chemo, as the treatment was having such a detrimental effect on his quality of life."
Michael was put on end-of-life care and died six weeks later on Friday, March 26. He was at home and surrounded by his loved ones.
Trish said: "I take great comfort from the fact that Michael wasn’t in pain at the end. It’s been hard to process everything though, especially in the context of the terrible year we’ve had with Covid. Before Michael became unwell, my 50th birthday and 25th wedding anniversary plans were ruined, due to lockdown.
"Just like my mum’s funeral, Michael’s had to be scaled back as well. It has truly been the worst year imaginable."
But now, motivated by their tragic loss, the family is joining thousands of other fundraisers around the country by taking part in Jog 26 Miles in May to raise money for Brain Tumour Research. The miles can be completed however and with whoever they like, so long as they follow Covid-19 safety guidelines.
Trish said: "I’m definitely not a runner, so I’ll probably walk most of my miles. Leanne and Mark are fitter than me and will jog. We are hoping to have done 25 miles by May 22 and the last mile will be done together with family and friends in fancy dress, finishing at Thurso Cemetery, where Michael is buried.
"We’ll have a wee shot of his favourite drink, Glayva, at his graveside. It’ll be an emotional day but a fitting way to mark the end of our challenge."
She added: "We’re blown away by the number of donations we’ve had already. We’ve raised an incredible £4100 before we’ve even begun."
Joe Woollcott, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We were so very sorry to learn about Trish and her children’s tragic loss. Our thoughts are with them, as they try to come to terms with losing Michael to this terrible disease.
"What the Mackays are doing in memory of their loved one is really inspirational. Michael’s story reminds us that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. We are determined to continue in our mission to find a cure for this terrible disease, to help prevent other families from suffering such a tragic loss."
If you want to donate, go to www.facebook.com/donate/227116162175472
