‘I woke up hearing the optician telling my mum that I needed to go to the hospital’
Emma Dunn and Kim Horton Senior Reporter
09:43, 01 Jun 2025
Liam Harvey, 26, was used to working long 80-hour weeks but started blacking out without warning, falling asleep mid-conversation and forgetting entire days in early 2019. However Liam’s mum, Alex, 64, demanded a second opinion and an MRI scan diagnosed him with cystic craniopharyngioma – a benign brain tumour(Image: SWNS)
A man who would fall asleep mid-conversation and put his blackouts down to working too much has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
He initially brushed off his symptoms for exhaustion from work and doctors initially agreed that he was overworked and underfed.
Liam Harvey, 26, was used to working long 80-hour weeks but started blacking out without warning, falling asleep mid-conversation and forgetting entire days in early 2019.
However Liam’s mum, Alex, 64, demanded a second opinion and an MRI scan diagnosed him with cystic craniopharyngioma – a benign brain tumour.
Liam underwent an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour and a further two brain surgeries to drain fluid from a cyst. He had to go through eight weeks of radiotherapy but finished treatment in October 2019.
Liam, a maintenance worker, from Bristol, said: “I first noticed something wasn’t right back in 2019. I was doing a job with my dad. I went up a ladder and suddenly got confused. I’d always suffered with migraines as a kid.
“I was also really tired all the time, falling asleep mid-conversation. I went to the doctor twice and was told it was poor diet and working long hours, so I didn’t think too much of it.
“But things got worse. I started blacking out, couldn’t stay awake, and began projectile vomiting.”
(Image: SWNS)
Liam was told again in May 2019 that his symptoms were from overworking but is mum, a carer, pushed for a referral at Royal United Hospital in Bath, Somerset.
But before the appointment came around, Liam had lost 80 per cent of his eyesight.
Liam said: “We went to the optician and paid for full testing. I couldn’t even stay awake through the exam. I woke up hearing the optician telling my mum that I needed to go to the hospital, urgently. He said there was something behind my eye.”
An MRI scan at Royal United Hospital in Bath in May 2019 revealed a benign brain tumour and Liam had a surgery to remove it that same month.
Liam underwent an additional two brain surgeries – as a cyst filled with fluid and a second to drain more fluid and fit a permanent brain drain.
Liam said: “It was a nightmare that I just wanted to end. I had no idea what was going on, I was in shock.”
(Image: SWNS)
Sadly, in August 2019 Liam had to be rushed back into hospital when his cyst liquefied and filled the space where the tumour had been, and put on radiotherapy.
He said: “It was brutal. Eight weeks of radiotherapy treatment, six tablets a day. I gained over eight stone in under two months. My skin tore from the stretch marks. The fatigue was soul-destroying.”
Over eight weeks, Liam gained over eight stone due to steroid medication, and his skin split under the pressure of rapid weight gain.
But by the end of October 2019, Liam rang the bell, marking the end of treatment.
His hip began deteriorating from the treatment’s side effects and in January 2021, Liam received a hip replacement at Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
Then he was able to return to work by August 2021.
He is now working with charity Brain Tumour Research to raise vital funds and awareness for research and bring hope to others facing similar battles.
Brilliantly he completed their 200k in May challenge by walking throughout the month.
(Image: SWNS)
Katrina Jones, head of community and digital fundraising at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Liam’s journey is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for increased investment in brain tumour research. His resilience and determination to raise awareness and funds inspire us all.
“We are deeply grateful for his support and commitment to helping find a cure for this devastating disease.”
Donate to Liam’s fundraiser here.