A year to live my lifetime; Brain tumour girl Rebecca's race to fulfil her ambitions EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: BY BETH NEIL 

WHEN doctors diagnosed Rebecca Shone with her second brain tumour in as many months, she broke down sobbing with anger.

Furious at the injustice and terrified she wouldn't have the strength to fight all over again, Rebecca felt her world would collapse.

But, incredibly, the 26-year-old has found the determination, guts and positivity to take life on with astonishing courage.

With the long-term future uncertain, she has resolved to fulfil lifelong dreams and cram as much as possible into every second.

Rebecca, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, already achieved her ambition to be a zoo keeper for the day. She's ridden in a limo and on Saturday she's going to the ballet.

Next year, when her latest bouts of radiotherapy and chemo are complete, she will marry her teenage sweetheart, web designer John Walker.

They then plan to travel around America and tour the islands around Australia.

Rebecca's list is enough to keep anyone terrifically busy, let alone someone undergoing gruelling cancer treatment.

But Rebecca, an administrator at Manchester University, says being so seriously ill has made her reassess what is important. And it's the simple things in life which are keeping her strength up.

"I appreciate the littlest of things that before I would have taken for granted," she says.

"I've got big events like my wedding and travelling which I can't wait for. I also want to have a big party on December 20 to celebrate my birthday, Christmas and the end of my current chemotherapy.

"But I also love going for walks in the rain and feeling the raindrops on my face.

"Curling up on the sofa and catching up with Hollyoaks, walking through the Autumn leaves and going out for meals with John. Life's too short for arguing and so I don't bother with any of that any more. We haven't had a single row since I was diagnosed. What is the point?

"I don't take anything, however small, for granted. And there's loads I want to see and do. I don't want to waste any time."

Rebecca first noticed her symptoms last summer. She was experiencing dizzy spells, hallucinations and having difficulty climbing stairs.

At first she put it down to stress at work and feeling rundown. It wasn't until her boss saw her fall up the stairs at work and told her to get to hospital that Rebecca thought there might be more to it.

She was referred to a neurologist who, although not overly concerned, sent her for an MRI scan. Rebecca was told it would take six weeks for the results - but the consultant called her the following night. "That's when I knew it was serious," she recalls. "That night was horrific. All sorts of things were going through my mind."

The next day Rebecca, her mum and John travelled to Salford Royal Hospital where a neurosurgeon told her she had a low-grade brain tumour.

"It was a huge shock, but everyone seemed positive," says Rebecca. "They said they would take it out."

It meant Rebecca and John would have to call off their wedding so the surgery could take place.

They decided, however, to keep their honeymoon to Disney-World in Florida and look on it as a holiday to celebrate Rebecca's recovery.

Unfortunately, within weeks her plans were in tatters. Rebecca began to have seizures again and a scan confirmed the tumour had returned and was far more aggressive than before. Rebecca was operated within a week before beginning chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Her treatment is due to end next summer when Rebecca will learn how well it has worked.

"I felt like I'd been hit by a train," she says. "That was the first time I sobbed uncontrollably. 2008 was going to be our year. We were going to get married, have the honeymoon of a lifetime. My job was going well and life was pretty amazing."

It was amid this feeling of misery that Rebecca discovered the gritty resolve which has characterised her fight so far.

She might feel exhausted, she might have lost her hair through chemotherapy, she might feel cheated, hurt and upset, but smiling Rebecca refuses to be beaten.

Not when she has so much left to do. She says: "I still have moments of absolute despair. But I want to carry on living as much as possible." Rebecca's first achievement was being able to pay off her mortgage, thanks to a critical illness insurance policy with Norwich Union. That money has given peace of mind while Rebecca has been unable to work and will also allow her and John to travel America and Australia next year, should she get the OK from doctors.

Friends then brought the cancelled Florida honeymoon to Hyde by dressing up her house as a Disney castle and throwing a party.

John, who Rebecca met when she was just 18, later organised a day out in a limo. He also arranged for Rebecca to be a keeper at Chester Zoo for the day. "That was amazing," she smiles. "I got to give the baby flamingos a cuddle and had the most fantastic day. I've always loved animals and for John to do that for me was very special."

Rebecca has set up a support group for young women going through the same illness and over the coming months Brain Tumour Girls on Tour are hoping to raise money by collecting then auctioning memorabilia from football clubs.

She is off to the ballet this weekend and, of course, her most important ambition is to finally marry John next September. She says: "One of the most difficult days was picking up my wedding dress knowing I wasn't going to wear it. But next September I'll put it on at last.

"Since I became ill I've learned so much. But, more than anything else, it's to make the most of everything and everyone you have. Love everything that's around you. And live. Just live!"

Life's too short for arguing.. there's loads I want to do and I don't want to waste any time

I got to give the baby flamingos a cuddle and had the most fantastic day. It was so special

My wish list

1. Be a zoo keeper for a day

2. Pay off mortgage

3. Ride in a limo

4. Have a fancy dress party

5. Stop arguing with friends

6. Walk in the rain

7. Run through Autumn leaves

8. Set up a support group for young women like me

9. Catch up on Hollyoaks

10. Get married to john

11. Travel America

12. Collect football club memorabilia to auction for charity

13. Visit Australia

14. Go to the ballet

15. Have a big birthday party

CAPTION(S):

FIZZ'LL DO NICELY Day out with John in limousine