Lizzie Pitt's Story: “Every Day Is a Gift”

When Lizzie Pitt, a mum from North Yorkshire, first collapsed at home last year, she had no idea that moment would mark the beginning of a life-changing journey.

“I was literally sat on the settee with my laptop,” Lizzie explained on BBC Look North. “I must have got up and had a seizure, but I didn’t know. I was on the floor and our son came downstairs and shouted to his dad saying, ‘Mum’s acting weird.’”

Scans revealed a brain tumour. At first, the news felt frightening — but manageable.

“I was told it was mostly grade 2, with a small amount of grade 3,” Lizzie said. “I was so relieved. I thought, that’s doable. I can work with that.”

That initial diagnosis allowed Lizzie to steady herself emotionally. She told her children that things were going to be okay. She told friends and family not to worry. She picked herself up and prepared to fight.

But weeks later, everything changed.

After awake brain surgery in Leeds to remove part of the tumour and take a biopsy, Lizzie was called back in. At first, she was reassured again. Then, a month later, came the worst possible news: the tumour was actually a glioblastoma- an aggressive brain tumour.

“The false hope was the hardest thing,” Lizzie said. “You punch the ground, you get yourself back up again, you’ve told people you’re okay, you’ve told your kids it’s okay- and then you’ve got to go back and say, actually, no, it’s not.”

Living With the “Elephant in the Room”

Now undergoing treatment, Lizzie and her husband, Al, are focused on nutrition, family time, and making the most of every day. Her daughter Rowan has helped raise money for further treatment, including exploring immunotherapy abroad.

“If you hadn’t shared that GoFundMe link, there’s absolutely no way we’d have raised the money we did,” Lizzie said.

Lizzie with her daughter, Rowan.

For Rowan, life has taken on a new depth of meaning.

“Family life becomes a lot more special,” she said. “You really appreciate it more. You realise how lucky you are for what you’ve got.”

But even in moments of normality, the reality is always there.

“It’s sort of the elephant in the room,” Lizzie said. “You do try not to ignore thing but just tocarry on, especially for the kids... you try to make them have a normal life.”

Reflecting on what matters most, Lizzie shared a message that resonates with so many families affected by brain tumours: “Why do we wait for special occasions? Every day is a gift. No one’s guaranteed tomorrow. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. Time with family is precious.”

Why Misdiagnosis Happens — and Why Research Matters

Speaking on the programme, our Trustee Dr Anke Bruning-Richardson explained why stories like Lizzie’s are heartbreakingly common.

“I wouldn’t say misdiagnosis is unusual,” Anke said. “The symptoms of brain tumours are often vague and overlap with other neurological conditions. You wouldn’t necessarily associate them with a brain tumour straight away.”

Anke also highlighted one of the biggest challenges facing patients today: the lack of progress in treatment.

“With brain cancers, we’re dealing with very aggressive and complex diseases,” she explained.“At the moment, we’re still largely relying on one drug that’s been used for around 30 years.”

One of the reasons for this is funding. Brain tumours receive less than 2% of the UK’s total cancer research funding, leaving researchers struggling to make breakthroughs.

“We’re heavily underfunded,” Anke said.“That means we don’t always have the facilities or resources needed to do truly groundbreaking research.”

Here in Yorkshire, 15 people every week are diagnosed with a brain tumour- a statistic that underlines just how urgently change is needed.

A Hand in the Dark

At Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity, we exist for people like Lizzie- and for the families standing beside them.

A brain tumour diagnosis can feel isolating, frightening, and overwhelming. Many people tell us they feel lost in the dark, unsure where to turn or who to trust.

That’s why we aim to be a hand in the dark.

We support:

• Patients living with a brain tumour

• Family members, friends, and carers

• Those navigating diagnosis, treatment, and life beyond

• People coping with uncertainty, grief, and change

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Alongside emotional and practical support, we fund vital local research to improve diagnosis, treatment options, and outcomes for people across Yorkshire.

How You Can Help

Lizzie’s story is one of courage, love, and resilience- but it is also a stark reminder of how much more needs to be done.

By supporting Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity, you help ensure that no one faces a brain tumour alone, and that research continues to move forward.

If you’re able to, please consider making a donation today:👉 www.yorksbtc.org.uk/donate

Together, we can be the hand in the dark- and help build a brighter future for everyone affected by brain tumours. 💙