A father from Gravesend has been told he has just 12 to 18 months to live after a persistent headache during a family holiday in Turkey turned out to be an incurable brain tumour.
Kris Bennett, 38, a self-employed painter and decorator, was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain cancer after an eight-hour awake craniotomy. He and his partner Hollie Boswell are now focused on making every moment count with their three young children.
The diagnosis
The nightmare began during a three-week family holiday in Turkey last July, when Kris developed persistent headaches. Initially blamed on stress or an ear infection from swimming, doctors later suspected cluster headaches. Days after returning, while celebrating Hollie's birthday at a spa, he suddenly lost his speech.
“I came out of the water and tried to speak to Hollie, but all my speech was slurred,” Kris recalled. “I laughed it off the first time, but then it happened again.”
A scan revealed a tumour measuring about 5cm on the left side of his brain. He was transferred to King’s College Hospital, London, where he underwent an eight-hour awake craniotomy on September 3. Surgeons removed 85% of the tumour, but the remainder was embedded in healthy tissue and could not be safely removed.
Life-changing news
Days later, biopsy results confirmed the tumour was a grade 4 brain cancer with a life expectancy of just 12 to 18 months. “It was the biggest shock of my life,” Kris said. “I was told it was incurable and that I had 12 to 18 months to live.”
Amid discussions about preserving fertility before chemotherapy, the couple discovered Hollie was already pregnant. Their daughter Sienna was born in May. “We did not realise Hollie was already pregnant,” Kris added. “While we were making all these decisions, Sienna was already being made. She’s the biggest blessing ever.”
Kris is currently undergoing chemotherapy, expected to continue until December. Only then will doctors know if he could be eligible for further surgery or clinical trials.
Impact on family life
The diagnosis forced Kris to close his business, sell his work van, and surrender his driving licence due to seizure risk. He now depends on Hollie for almost everything. “My life disappeared overnight,” he said. “I lost my work, my independence and a huge part of my identity.”
Hollie is on maternity leave after welcoming Sienna, having already cut back her working hours to care for Kris. The family faces financial strain, prompting friend Jerry Mackenzie to launch a GoFundMe appeal to ease everyday costs and help plan the couple’s dream wedding.
The appeal has inspired strangers, including a holiday park owner offering a free caravan and a charity football tournament. “Kick for Kris,” hosted by Meopham Colts FC, where six-year-old Toby plays, will take place on Sunday, August 30, at Judson’s Recreational Ground, Wrotham Road, Meopham, from 9am to 1pm.
“We’re making memories,” Hollie said. “That's all we want to do.” Kris added: “There are birthdays to celebrate, a wedding to plan, holidays to enjoy and three young children to love. We’re trying to fit 20 years of life into such a short amount of time.”
