Jackie’s close shave
with blindness
By Sarah Johnson
WHEN Jackie Walker was diagnosed with a condition that threatened her sight, possibly even her life, you’d have understood if she’d wallowed for a while in her own misfortune.
 However, she turned a terrifying experience into a cause for celebration by raising £1600 for our CHAS Appeal.
Jackie (42), a nurse at Stirling Royal Infirmary, was first diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia when she was 13.
She explains, “I was getting bad headaches and there was a deformity around my left eye. Back then they thought there was nothing to worry about.”
Fibrous dysplasia is a disorder of the skeleton that causes expansion of one or more bones due to an abnormality in the fibrous tissue within the bone. This causes uneven growth, pain, brittleness and deformity in affected bones.
However, when it occurs in the skull and facial bones it can cause loss of vision and hearing.
Nerve
Jackie says, “They found the growth was sitting on the optic nerve of my left eye. They were quite intrigued and, as it’s quite rare, they sent the growth down to London. But they told me the condition was unlikely to return.”
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 Jackie,
above, with her hair grown back and below, under the shears of Andrew
Ure.
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It was because of this early experience that Jackie decided to become a nurse. “I had been so well looked after I wanted to help people when I was older.”
Ironically, some years later Jackie was to work in the same hospital she was treated and even in the same ward.
Then in 1990, the condition proved the doctors wrong and returned.
Jackie says, “I was getting horrific headaches and my eye was bulging in the socket.
Terrified
“This time I was admitted to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, where they likened the growth to a golf ball pressing on my eye. I was terrified of losing my sight.”
Once again fibrous tissue was removed and reconstructive surgery followed.
But two years ago, her worst fears were realised.
“The headaches returned, my eye puffed out, and I was so tired. I just knew it had come back. I just didn’t want to believe it. I was so scared. This was the fourth time I had to shave off my hair in preparation for operations.
“On one occasion only the part to be operated on was shaved and it looked ridiculous. So I decided it was far better to have done with it and shave it all.
“I love my hair, like any woman, and hate having to lose it, but I thought — if it’s got to go, then I’d do something worthwhile and raise money at the same time.
“I’d read so much about CHAS in The Sunday Post and although I don’t have children they’re always close to my heart.
“As a nurse I’ve worked with many over the years. I desperately wanted to help towards the completion of the new hospice, Robin House.
“My hairdresser and friend Andrew Ure said he’d shave my hair off, so on the Saturday before my operation my friends and family gathered at his salon!
Bald
“I’ve been getting my hair cut shorter gradually, so it wasn’t such a shock to be entirely bald.
“The money came from friends, family and colleagues. They were brilliant at work.
“You just have to mention CHAS and people are willing to help.
“The porters took sponsor forms all around the hospital. When we realised how much was raised I was absolutely delighted.
“It’s awful losing your hair, but concentrating on raising money and organising everything really took my mind off how scared I was.
“When it was shaved off, you could see all the scars from previous operations.”
Last May, Jackie was admitted to the Southern General again.
“The operation, which involved the surgeon going in through my skull and past my brain, lasted more than six hours.”
Thankfully it was a huge success. Jackie has never felt better and with her hair grown back she looks fantastic.
“I’m so positive, feeling great. There’s one small operation to follow, but nothing to worry about.
Lucky
“Apart from slight tunnel-vision I can see fine. I’m so lucky to have my sight!
“One benefit from shaving my head was not having to spend so much time on my hair every morning. It was great! It’s grown back now, so it takes me ages in the morning again.”
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