Widow had heart attack hours after husband's funeral

Sue Grigg was left heartbroken after her husband Geoff died in June 2021, just five weeks after a shock brain tumour diagnosis. 

But after the widow attended his funeral, within hours she suffered a heart attack, leaving her with a stent.

She now thinks the shock of Geoff's rapid deterioration was to blame for the heart attack after he died within weeks, having been given six months by doctors. 

Geoff and Sue cut cake together (Image: Brain Tumour Research)

The Lee-on-the-Solent resident said: “My life was shattered by Geoff’s death, I didn’t want to go on.

"On the day of his funeral, I suffered a heart attack. I thought if I die, I die, as without him, there was no point.

“The only thought that made me make the call to the ambulance was that I knew he would hate for me to give up.”

Geoff, a retired teacher, first noticed an issue when he showed signs of memory loss in 2021 with his wife believing it could be an indicator of Alzheimer's. 

But after his condition got worse and he stopped being able to do daily activities, an MRI scan revealed he was living with terminal glioblastoma. 

Now Sue is keen to fight back against the disease and is taking on the Brain Tumour Research 99 Miles in November challenge. 

Geoff and Sue (Image: Brain Tumour Research)

She said: “I will never know if things would have been different if the tumour had been discovered earlier.

"Not enough people know about what to look out for. An MRI scan should be one of the first options, not the last resort.

"By the time Geoff’s tumour had been found, it was already too late.

“There are so many unanswered questions to what happened to Geoff, which is why funding more research into the disease is so vital.

"What could be more important than making diagnoses quicker and potentially saving lives?

"Early detection of this disease is needed because when one person develops this awful cancer, so many lives are lost.”

Those taking on the November challenge have the full month to complete the distance in any way they choose.

Sue is also supporting the charity as it urges the government to follow through on its promise to invest £40 million into research into brain tumours.

Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Sue’s determination to overcome her own physical struggles and fundraise with the 99 Miles in November challenge is an inspiration to us all.

“The speed at which the tumour claimed Geoff’s life is unfortunately not uncommon.

"Sadly, just 12 per cent of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 54 per cent across all cancers.

"Stories like Geoff’s only underline how time is of the essence to find a cure.”

Brain Tumour Research funds research at dedicated centres and campaigns for more investment in research to speed up new treatments and find a cure.