A MUM has thanked a hospital where she underwent lifesaving surgery for a benign brain tumour.

Kate Baker, from Colchester, was taken to Queen’s Hospital in Romford after she was diagnosed with the tumour last December.

Miss Baker, 35, of Papillon Road, had suffered several weeks of migraines and sickness with no idea of what caused it.

She does not remember much of what happened but said she fell unconscious at home and was taken to Colchester General Hospital where a CAT scan revealed the mass in her brain.

Kate was blue lighted down the A12 to Queen’s Hospital in the peak of the morning rush hour and spent six days in the care of staff.

She said: “It was an absolutely massive shock, I was ill for quite a long time.

“I don’t remember much, the last thing I remember is being put in the car by my parents and then waking up in Queen’s Hospital.

“There was relief of being somewhere safe and knowing I had an answer.

“I had an overwhelming feeling of just being in good hands and the confidence they instilled in me was really reassuring.

“They had it under control and it made me feel happy.”

Kate underwent two major operations, the first to insert a drain into her head to drain out the fluid which had built up in her brain.

Two days later, surgeons removed the tumour completely.

Kate, who has a three-year-old son, Max, now has to go for annual check ups.

She called staff at the hospital her heroes. She said: “It was a bit traumatic. I really wanted to go home and the staff worked tirelessly to make sure I could get home in the best possible way.

“It was nothing sinister but there could have been complications.”

Kate vowed to show her appreciation by running for the hospital and has already completed the Colchester 10k race and the Vitality 10k in London.

She said: “There’s a 10 mile race in Lee Valley at the end of June which I want to sign up for.

“Based on that race it will take my total race mileage up to 47 miles which is the distance between Colchester General and Queen’s hospital.

“It’s a fitting tribute to the two hospitals which worked together to save my life.”

Kate will complete her fundraising in October when she takes part in the Great Birmingham Run.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thankyouqueenshospital.