Joe Yates
A woman who was told she only had a phobia of spiders has now been given just six months to live after doctors later discovered she actually had a brain tumour.
Ex-England soccer player Amy Carr first collapsed back in 2015 after spotting a spider in her bedroom. Medics initially dismissed the episode as a fear-induced reaction, but when she suffered two further blackouts at the gym, the real cause was uncovered.
The 34-year-old was diagnosed with a grade four cancer after the discovery of an astrocytoma - a brain and spinal cord tumor that had grown as large as a golf ball - and went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to remove it.
For years, she thought she was in the clear. But tragically, almost a decade on, the tumour has returned and she’s now been told it’s terminal.
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In August, doctors gave Amy, from Hemel Hempstead - a town roughly an hour's drive northwest of London - a devastating prognosis of just six to nine months left to live after she developed slurred speech and blurred vision shortly after a routine check-up.
The heartbreaking news came just weeks before Amy was due to set sail on a dream 10-day cruise around Italy and Greece with her best friend Lucy Baker.
The pair spent around $5,375 on the trip, but were forced to cancel after Amy was refused travel insurance because of her condition.
Despite providing medical proof, cruise company Iglu initially declined them a refund - though the company has since responded.
"I’m exhausted with trying - and failing - to make contact with Iglu," Amy said before hearing back from the company.
"They haven’t responded to either of us. Even though they told us they can’t give us a refund, they could’ve apologised or organised a voucher. I’m beyond disappointed with Iglu and their lack of care."
Lucy explained the holiday was meant to be one last chance for Amy to visit places she’d 'always wanted to see'. She even paid an additional $1,000 to take a wheelchair onboard, desperate to make it happen.
"We were really looking forward to it,” the 35-year-old said. “They were just quite heartless, really - they told us we’d have a 100 percent loss and we weren’t offered any form of refund or voucher.”
Iglu has since responded in a statement, saying: "We were truly saddened to learn the reason Amy has had to cancel this holiday and we extend our deepest sympathies during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts are with Amy and all her loved ones.
"Our team has reviewed the booking, and under these difficult circumstances, we certainly want to do what we can to help.
"We are pleased to confirm that we are issuing a refund of £1,500 t$2,016) to Amy Carr as an immediate gesture of goodwill. While we know this doesn't replace the holiday that was being looked forward to, we sincerely hope this gesture will offer some measure of relief and alleviate a little of the disappointment.
"We know that in times like these, the last thing anyone needs is a complication, and we are sorry for any added upset this may have caused."
Amy’s journey hasn’t been easy.
After her 2015 operation - which was performed while she was awake - she was left unable to walk or talk for eight days, and when she finally spoke again, it was in French.
The tumour has affected her coordination and personality, but it hasn’t stopped her raising more than $35,000 for Brain Tumour Research.
On Saturday (September 27), Amy completed a five-mile fundraiser with Lucy and friends, travelling the route on a mobility scooter. "Amy is such an inspiration to all those around her," Lucy said. "It’s such a shame she didn’t get to go on the cruise that she was so looking forward to."