When your partner starts mentioning odd smells or moments of intense déjà vu, brain cancer isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind.
For Edinburgh mother-of-three Leanne Fair, those strange early signs were just the beginning of a heartbreaking journey.
Her husband Barry, just 44 years old, initially brushed off his symptoms as work-related stress—something many of us might do in the same situation.
But what seemed minor at first turned into a nightmare no family should have to face.
A Sudden Seizure Changes Everything
It was January 2022 when Barry, a mortgage advisor, started experiencing phantom smells and unexplained feelings of déjà vu.
His GP chalked it up to a demanding workload, and life went on—until a sudden seizure hit him like lightning out of a clear blue sky.
Leanne rushed him to the hospital, where an avalanche of scans and tests revealed the shocking truth: Barry had a stage three astrocytoma, a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumour.
This type of tumour is part of a broader category called gliomas, which originate in the brain or spinal cord.
Sadly, the prognosis for this kind of cancer is grim—only 20 to 50 percent of patients survive more than five years.
Surgery, Setbacks, and the Fight of a Lifetime
Barry underwent urgent surgery just weeks later, on February 23, 2022, at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Surgeons managed to remove a large portion of the tumour from his frontal lobe, but further testing showed it had already started spreading to a deeper part of the brain called the corpus callosum—an area impossible to operate on.
From there, the couple was thrust into years of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The side effects were brutal, but Barry never lost his spirit. Leanne recalls how he kept cracking jokes, listening to music, and doing whatever he could to keep life as normal and joyful as possible.
Finding Joy in the Little Things
Even as his condition worsened, Barry was determined to live fully.
The couple treasured family trips, simple walks with their dog Spud, and casual nights playing pool with friends.
His resilience, sense of humor, and kindness never faded, even when he began to lose movement in his hand.
“He always thought of others, even when he was suffering,” Leanne said.
“That’s just who Barry was—brave and selfless.”
The Final Goodbye at Home
In early 2024, Barry’s health rapidly declined. After suffering another seizure, he returned home under Leanne’s full-time care. Doctors gave him 48 hours to live, but in true Barry fashion, he held on for seven more weeks—pain-free and surrounded by the love of his family.
“Watching him fade was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Leanne said. “But I was grateful to be by his side, giving him the love and care he deserved.”
Walking for a Cure and Honoring a Legacy
More than a year after Barry’s passing, Leanne found strength and purpose by participating in the Glasgow Kiltwalk on April 27, 2025.
She walked in support of Brain Tumour Research, raising awareness and funds in Barry’s memory.
“When I saw the date, I knew I had to do it,” she said.
“It gave me a reason to keep going. Every step was for Barry.”
Leanne hopes to keep fundraising so that in the future, others won’t have to go through what Barry did.
“He deserved better,” she added, “and so does every other person facing this disease.
I’ll carry his memory with me, always.