Sam Kowalski, 37, from Wirral, was hours from boarding a flight to Japan with his fiancée Emily when he suffered a seizure in their hotel room, leading to a series of events that ended with a devastating brain cancer diagnosis.
Sam had proposed to Emily at Glastonbury earlier that year, and the couple were looking forward to their holiday and the future they were building together. But in the early hours before their departure, Sam was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital after the seizure.
Missed Calls and a Sudden Seizure
Sam's mum, Sahra, told the ECHO: "I woke up to lots of missed calls from Emily at about 5am, which was really alarming. She told me they were in Wythenshawe Hospital and Sam had had a seizure in the hotel room."
Sahra added: "I was in shock. I thought it was really strange. As a mum, you're trying to look for the reason behind everything. I started Googling and found out it's not uncommon to have a one-off seizure."
Hospital staff gave Sam the all-clear and told him he was fit to fly, so he and Emily continued with their holiday. However, he continued to feel unwell, experiencing dizziness, feeling spaced out and struggling with his vision and certain environments. At the time, Sam attributed some of these symptoms to anxiety and stress.
Second Seizure and Tumour Discovery
After returning home, Sam managed just one day back at work before his symptoms became "overwhelming". In October, while away celebrating his birthday with friends, he suffered another tonic-clonic seizure.
Determined to find answers quickly, the family arranged a private MRI scan at Spire Murrayfield Hospital. The results revealed a small tumour on Sam's brain. Sahra said: "The doctor called Sam back a couple of days later and said they had found a small tumour in a 'very operable position'."
She added: "I didn't know anything about brain tumours. We knew it wasn't good news, but it didn't seem to be too bad."
Sam was referred to The Walton Centre, where doctors initially diagnosed him with a low-grade glioma. The family were again told the tumour was in an operable position and surgeons believed they could remove around 95% of it.
Surgery Halted and Grade 4 Diagnosis
In February, Sam underwent surgery in the hope of removing the tumour. But the operation was halted when, as the surgeon attempted to touch the tumour, Sam's arm and face began moving significantly. Concerned about the risk of causing serious neurological damage, the surgeon decided not to proceed, and a sample was taken for biopsy instead.
Sahra said: "It was a huge blow for Sam to come out of surgery and the tumour hadn't been taken out, after all the emotion of preparing mentally to have the surgery."
The biopsy results revealed a Grade 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, rather than the low-grade glioma initially diagnosed. Sahra said watching her son navigate such a life-changing diagnosis had been "incredibly difficult". She added: "To this day, I could never know what Sam feels deep inside because he shows a certain side to us all. It's as if he wants to protect us."
She continued: "I've said to Sam, people go through life and achieve all sorts of things, but I think this life achievement of managing such a drastic diagnosis has been a real testament to his character and his strength."
Exploring Treatment Options
Since the diagnosis, Sam and his family have been determined to explore every appropriate option available to him. They have researched treatments, specialist consultations and emerging technologies, including clinical trials in the UK and internationally. The family also connected with a man from Wallasey who is a long-term survivor of glioblastoma and shared his experiences and some approaches he had explored alongside standard medical treatment.
Sam has made significant lifestyle changes, including following a strict low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. The family have also been exploring supportive approaches such as red light therapy and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Sam's latest MRI showed no evidence of tumour progression, alongside signs of slight shrinkage.
Sahra said: "Just to hear those words was fantastic. We don't know exactly what's done it, but anything is worth a try. It's keeping us going right now."
Fundraising Appeal Launched
Sam's family have launched a fundraising appeal to help him access appropriate treatment and care that may not otherwise be available through the NHS. Among the options they are investigating is Tumour Treating Fields, including Optune, a technology which uses electric fields to disrupt the division of cancer cells.
They are also looking into specialist medical opinions, clinical trials and other potential treatment opportunities. Some of these options can cost tens of thousands of pounds, with additional expenses potentially including travel, accommodation and specialist consultations. The family say the fundraising appeal is about ensuring finances do not prevent Sam from exploring an appropriate opportunity that could help him.
Sahra said Sam's "positive outlook and strength of character" had remained an inspiration to those around him throughout an incredibly difficult period. Anyone wishing to donate to the GoFundMe can do so online.
