Cured with no need for major brain op

Alan Broughton, 60, from Monk Bretton, started to feel unwell during Christmas 2008, but put it down to a virus. When he was later diagnosed with meningitis, he was told he would need surgery to stop the infection from returning.

Alan was relieved to learn that Neurocare, a charity which supports the Neurosciences Department at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, had just funded a piece of surgical equipment which meant he didn't have to undergo an invasive operation.

Alan said: "The meningitis had entered through my sinuses, behind my nose, where a benign cyst had been developing. This had created a small hole in the bone between the sinus and the brain cavity. There was the likelihood that it might re-occur. To avoid this happening, doctors recommended I had surgery. In past years this would have been approached by a craniotomy, involving lifting the top of my head and moving the brain to one side.

"Luckily, Neurocare had recently funded a new piece of equipment, called a skull base endoscope, which meant it wouldn't need to be corrected that way. The correction was made through the nose, which was far less invasive."

Last year, Neurocare raised 70,000 to bring the new skull based endoscope to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

"The operation only took three hours and I was home just two days later without a scratch on me," said Alan.

For more information visit www.neurocare.org.uk or contact Lesley Eland on 0114 267 6464.