Sophie Stapleford has finally been given an answer to her 12 months of suffering, but not the answer that she was expecting to hear.
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The 21-year-old struggled every day with excruciating headaches, lethargy, nausea and blurred vision but still managed to fulfil the duties of her full-time position at Cessnock Multipurpose Children’s Centre without complaint.
She would be in and out of doctors’ surgeries being diagnosed with sinus infections, throat infections and ear infections, before things started to get worse and she was referred to a specialist.
Again misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue, Sophie underwent an MRI and found out she had a brain tumour.
As a fit and healthy athlete with a talent on the soccer field, Sophie said she had heard about people being diagnosed and felt saddened for them but never thought it would happen to her.
“When it does it feels so surreal, none of it really makes sense and you think why me? Or why our family?” she said.
Since her diagnosis Sophie has been on an emotional rollercoaster, but she has not let it get her down.
“Really the only thing that will help us all to get through something like this is to accept what it is and see the positive out of such a negative,” she said.
Sophie was used to sacrifice, playing soccer for 11 years and giving up her nights and weekends to play the game she loved so much.
But now, she has been forced to make a sacrifice of a different kind.
“It has been hard letting go of a lot of things in my life that I have loved doing, being 21 years old, very sporty and active, very social and love being with my friends, it has been almost impossible for me to continue with that lifestyle.”
She will undergo an expensive surgery next week to treat the tumour, costing in excess of $50,000.
Anthony Burke – who is assisting Sophie and her family with fundraising – said that Cessnock “will do what it does best” and band together to help Sophie out in her time of need.
There is a fundraiser page for Sophie on the Mycause website and a night is being planned for her at Cessnock Leagues Club on August 1 with entertainment, raffles, auctions and more.
The Cessnock Multipurpose Children’s Centre is also holding two days next week for Sophie, where they will wear grey and collect gold coin donations for the cause on Tuesday and Friday.
If anyone can assist with fundraising or donations of money or prizes for the night for Sophie, visit the Facebook page - A Goal for Sophie.
Sophie faces a long road ahead and said this is not the end of her story; it is just one of those chapters that will challenge her.
“With these words in mind ‘whatever it takes’ I will be back doing the things I love!”