Today I am 48 plus 8, and enjoying life as much as is humanly possible. And it is the comic thought of Dylan Thomas’ mathematical idea of disguising ones’ age which does make me feel youthful to a certain degree. But judging by my history of illness, it is a miracle that I have reached such an age and that I am able to lead an extraordinary life. It may seem premature to be writing an autobiography, but after such a long battle to survive, it is only now that I seem to be more in control of the events surrounding my life as it is today. My story is a tragic but heartwarming account of how I had to learn to survive after such a traumatic childhood following a critical brain tumor diagnosis at the age of 8 when I was left with multiple disabilities.

My parents, Allan David, and Elizabeth Gaynor Shaw, must have been overwhelmed with sadness and panic by such a devastating diagnosis, and I applaud their kindness and strength throughout such a traumatic ordeal.

Unfortunately, one day, I became desperately ill, and Gaynor was frantic with worry as she was adamant that I was not suffering from sinus problems, which was something that the local doctor diagnosed.

With my health becoming desperately worse, Gaynor took me to a private doctor as well as a local optician. I was finally correctly diagnosed and then was rushed to the hospital.

Gaynor loved to sing and dance when her children were grown up. It was her personality to join in with sing-a-longs and have fun. She was a devoted mother and remained dedicated to her children.

Allan purchased a plot of land on a 40 acre site and proceeded to design and build his own house. It was demoralizing when I was diagnosed with a large brain tumor, and as a family had no fixed home, we went to live with Gaynor’s parents in Llanharan. He continued to work and build the house with the help of a local builder.

Since the operation, my life has been difficult, as my recovery took me over 30 years, something which will never actually be complete. But I had a great determination, as well as the power of my mind, and was determined that I would reach my goal of leading as normal a life as possible. Part of my success is down to my hobbies and my overall outlook on life. I would say that these were and still are, vital therapies for me, which is why I put emphasis on them throughout my autobiography. I feel that it is important to focus your life on the things that you enjoy doing despite the difficulties around you, as depression and the urge to surrender could easily take over your mind.

I can never forget about my disabilities, as I have to live with them every day, and it is now harder as I am now alone as a widow. But as the Covid 19 virus shattered the world throughout 2020 and beyond, I decided, with enthusiasm, to write about my struggles in life and my successes in the hope of encouraging others to never give up.