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Abigail O'Leary & Hannah Mackenzie Wood

Dad dies of brain tumour after recognising symptoms on 24 hours in A&E TV show

A dad died of brain cancer after going to hospital when he recognised his symptoms in a patient featured on a 24 Hours in A&E episode.

Glenn Farley had previously been discharged by medics after suffering with a problem in his foot.

However, the 51-year-old later spotted someone with the same symptoms as him on the popular Channel 4 documentary series.

After telling his wife Thomasina, the pair decided to head back to the Royal Gwent hospital in Wales where he underwent more tests, the Mirror reports.

The steelworker was then given the devastating news that he had an aggressive glioblastoma multiforme.

Just 19 months later, he passed away surrounded by family - with Thomasina now walking 10,000 steps a day for charity in his memory.

She said: “I’m not very good at watching anything medical on TV as it makes me squeamish.

"After Glenn mentioned about the patient on 24 Hours in A&E, we went straight to the hospital, instead of phoning the doctor.

“It was incredibly shocking to hear the diagnosis and we were told that the average survival rate for someone with a GBM is just 12-18 months. We were heartbroken.”

Glen with his granddaughter. (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)

Glenn, of Newport in Wales, first went to the hospital after becoming worried that he may have suffered a stroke when his leg started to drag.

A scan of his body from the neck down found nothing unusual and he was kept in overnight for monitoring.

Glenn Farley in hospital receiving treatment. (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)

He went home the next day but suffered multiple seizures.

The couple went back to the hospital after realising the patient on TV had the same symptoms.

A scan of Glenn’s head revealed the devastating news that he had a fast-growing tumour on his brain.

Tesco worker Thomasina said: “Our family really rallied around for us at such a hard time, especially my sister’s husband, Chris.

"He took him every day to his treatment, physio and the gym, he even took him when Glenn was ready to go back to his first football match.

"They were more than family, they were best friends and they even worked together.”

Glenn, who worked for Orb Steelworks, had most of his tumour removed at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff.

He spent nine months undergoing gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.

Doctors told him he may never walk again - but he battled through to walk daughter Katie, 31, down the aisle in July 2019.

Glenn with his family on daughter Katie's wedding day. (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)

Glenn's condition later deteriorated when the cancer spread to his spine and he tragically died four months later.

He died surrounded by his family in November - on the same day as his son Luke’s 33rd birthday.

Thomasina said: “You wouldn’t have known he had a brain tumour to look at him. He kept saying: ‘should I have a headache or something?’ because he felt well in himself and he didn’t look poorly.”

Glenn Farley's friends at his football club pay tribute. (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)

Thomasina and their eldest granddaughter, Maisie, are now walking 10,000 steps every day in February for Brain Tumour Research.

She said: “Maisie and I have been loving the challenge so far, with all of our family cheering us on. Glenn would have loved it and I know he’d be very proud of what we were doing to help other families going through something similar.”

Mel Tiley, of Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are very sorry to hear about Glenn’s diagnosis and passing. We are very grateful to the family, including Thomasina and Maisie for their ongoing support and for signing up to take part in 10,000 Steps a Day to fund vital research to find a cure for brain tumours.

" Less than 12 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50 per cent across all cancers."

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