Pick Me Up! 29-Oct-2020

Driving along the M4, my head was absolutely pounding. Deciding to pull over, everything went black. I don’t remember much of what happened after that, but when I arrived at the hospital, I was diagnosed with a rare brain syndrome called Cavernoma and told I had a tumour the size of a golf-ball. I was going to need major surgery, but it was the emotional side I really struggled with. There seemed to be very little information out there on Cavernoma and no one really understood what I was going through. I just wanted to talk to someone in the same boat as me. Despite 1 in 600 people having the condition, I could only find one charity dedicated to it. So, in November 2018, I set up my own…

Good deed of the week Meet the 14-year-old engineer hoping to take over the world with his creation – FallAlert. Designed to help elderly people, particularly those with dementia, FallAlert is a wearable sensor that will automatically send an alert to the family or carers if the person falls. The device searches the house for the location of the individual. Inspired by his 90-year-old Great Aunt Pat, he created the device after she took a fall and was left there for hours. As a result of his creation, Freddie has won the Junior Engineer of the Year at the Big Bang Fair and has now been chosen as a finalist in the Tech4Good Awards. To bring his creation to market, Freddie needs your help! • Visit ‘FallAlert by Freddie Howells’…

If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

Walking towards the local nightclub, I whispered to my friend: ‘Who’s that? I want to chat him up!’ He was a handsome police officer on duty, and his name was Chris. My friends and I used to call him ‘the copper that looked like Prince Harry’ whenever we spotted him around our hometown of Glenrothes, Scotland. With a few drinks inside me, I had the confidence to talk to him. I even complimented him on his luminous yellow police jacket. Not long after, when I was 19, Chris added me on a social network called Bebo. ‘Oh my gosh!’ I squealed. ‘He’s just messaged me!’ Chris and I made plans to go for a coffee, and I even took my sister Naomi with me because I was so nervous. But…

NO TRICKS, JUST TREATS! Soak in the Halloween spirit with new delights as well as returning favourites from Lush. With a range of bath bombs, shower gels, slime, soap and lip scrubs, you are sure to love this spooky collection. 1. Hey You Guys Knot Wrap, £5 This knot wrap is totally reusable. Fold it one way to have a pirate bandana, and fold the other way to have a spooky mummy head band. 2. Bat Art Bath Bomb, £4.95 Be spellbound by this mystic bat bath bomb. Full of bath art worthy surprises – deep glittery waters await with a fresh, herbal scent that lingers. 3. Very Very Frightening! £12 Embrace your sweet side with this bold, uplifting shower gel. Containing fresh lemon, fig juice, it’s bright yellow colour…

Being different is the last thing you want when you’re a child. ‘Hey peg leg!’ a boy shouted as I hobbled across the playground. My face flushed red with embarrassment as I tried to ignore the taunts. It was true, I did have a funny walk, but that didn’t mean their comments hurt any less. When I was born in 1980, my right leg was covered in what looked like bruises. Dark black and purple splodges covered the entirety of my limb and were of huge concern to my poor parents, Rebecca, now 73, and John, 75. Doctors told them not to worry, and that the markings would likely disappear by the time I was six – but there was nothing they could do to help. Stumbling through my early…