Tia Bradbury, a 27-year-old prison officer at HMP Styal, experienced a terrifying ordeal when a headache she dismissed as a migraine turned out to be a 3cm brain tumour. She woke up one morning completely blind in one eye.
From Migraine to Blindness
At age 25, Bradbury, then pregnant with her second child and caring for her one-year-old, began suffering from headaches and vision problems. Initially attributing them to migraines, her condition worsened until she lost sight in one eye upon waking. Scans at a hospital revealed the tumour, diagnosed in April 2024.
“It was terrifying,” Bradbury recalled. “I suffered from migraines, so at first I thought it was just another one. But my sight didn’t come back. One morning I woke up and I couldn’t see out of one eye at all.”
Brain Surgery While Pregnant
Bradbury underwent brain surgery in May 2024 while 22 weeks pregnant. The operation successfully restored her vision, but she experienced weakness and difficulty walking post-surgery. “The scariest part was being told my eyesight might not come back. When I woke up and I could see again, it was such a relief,” she said.
She added: “They must have touched a nerve during the surgery. For a while I couldn’t really get about, but after a couple of weeks I started improving. It’s been a gradual process, and it really makes you think about how the brain works.”
Return to HMP Styal
After a 10-month recovery, Bradbury returned to work at the women’s prison in Greater Manchester in March 2025. Despite anxiety about returning, she found support from colleagues. “I was anxious about coming back after being away for so long. But everyone was so good at easing me back in. I still get extremely tired, and they’ve always been very understanding,” she said.
Bradbury continues to have six-monthly MRI scans to monitor a small benign remnant of the tumour. “If it grows, I’ll have radiotherapy, but for now there’s no reason to do anything,” she explained.
Career in Prison Service
Bradbury joined HMP Styal in 2021 after her family clothing business closed during the pandemic. Initially interested in policing, she found her calling in the Prison Service. Now working in safer custody on a rotating shift pattern, she builds rapport with inmates and helps them through trauma.
“You see the same women every day, you build rapport, and you can really help calm people down. Some people here have nobody on the outside, and you can be on their side and help them through trauma. I like knowing I’m actively helping people,” she said.
She also values the flexibility for childcare: “The flexibility really helps with childcare. It’s incredibly difficult with two young children, but the shifts can work in your favour.”
Reflections and Future
Bradbury says she cannot imagine leaving the Prison Service. “I love being back at work. I actually enjoy coming in. It’s a nice break from everything else, and it’s a really good prison. I can’t see myself doing anything else,” she stated.
Reflecting on her journey, she added: “There were times when I didn’t know how I’d get through everything. Having a job that I enjoy, and colleagues who support you, really matters.”
