A SKIPTON woman who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour with a poor prognosis has celebrated being in good health 12 years down the line and has even written a children’s book during the lockdowns.

Emma Crabtree, 49, daughter of the late Harry Crabtree, former head of paid services with Craven District Council and former president of Skipton Rugby Club, has packed a lot into this past year.

After studying at Oxford Brookes University she graduated with a degree in business studies and retail management. Her working career was mainly in higher education in various university departments.

“Initially I worked as a course administrator at Leeds Beckett University and was delighted to travel to Hong Kong a couple of times to work on the organisation of the graduation ceremonies and course inductions.

“I was then employed by the University of Leeds as a student support manager which was extremely rewarding and challenging.

“My working career was suddenly cut short in June 2009. I had been experiencing headaches, and loss of sensation in my left hand, when investigated at Leeds General Infirmary I was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4. It was such a shock for me and my family to learn that my prognosis was as little as 12-18 months.

Following surgery, I had six weeks of daily radiotherapy and six months of chemotherapy. I must admit that I felt surprisingly well throughout all my treatment, with virtually no side effects.

Emma is enjoying life to the full and during lockdown it was suggested she put her drawing and writing talents to good use.

The result is a children’s book called The Adventures of Big Boy: Big Boys Birthday Walk…. a touching and heartfelt story based on her own cat, a stray, which moved into her home in 2013. Sadly he died in 2020.

The book is priced at £8.95, and £1 from every book sold will go to the Yorkshire Brain Tumour charity. Books can be purchased on Emma’s web page emmacrabtree.uk