Louth author's ‘​Nipper’ book sales support Brain Tumour Awareness Month

​Anna Williams was diagnosed with a WHO grade 2 benign meningioma, a rare brain tumour, in 2011 and released her book, “Little Nipper to the Rescue” last year, inspired by her own brain tumour battle and the Louth-based bus that gave her her confidence back.

She has now pledged to donate £1 per copy sold in March to The Brain Tumour Charity, after first being diagnosed when she was six months pregnant with her daughter Connie when she started experiencing headaches and vision problems.

Her midwife referred her to A&E where signs of swelling saw her referred her for a CT scan, which showed a tumour in the right front temporal lobe and cavernous sinus.

Six days after Connie was born via caesarian section, Anna had a craniotomy to remove the tumour, followed by stereotactic radiotherapy.

“The following years have not been without challenges,” Anna said, “I've had a regrowth, further stereotactic radiotherapy and surgery, and have developed epilepsy. I now have reduced sight and hearing on one side but despite all this I consider myself extremely lucky.

“I've met some wonderful, caring people and learned a lot about myself. I have also suffered along the way with mental health challenges and some discrimination, but have drawn on these experiences to highlight to others that regardless of the barriers you may face, we have a positive contribution to make.”

One of the side effects of Anna’s diagnosis was epilepsy, which she began experiencing in 2022 and meant she was no longer able to drive. So she started using the local bus – the Louth Nipper.

At the same time, she started writing as a form of therapy, and was inspired by the other passengers she met on the bus and their kindnesses, and Little Nipper to the Rescue is dedicated to them.

To mark Brain Tumour Awareness month, Anna will donate £1 to The Brain Tumour Charity for every copy of her book sold this March.

“The book is about a little community bus that feels small and insignificant compared to those around him. He is unsure about himself and just wants to feel useful and have a purpose, all the feelings I experienced on my tumour and epilepsy journey.

“Although the story was inspired my tumour journey and my recovery using the Louth Nipper, it is not specifically referenced in the book as I didn’t want it to become all about the “labels” that go with my condition. I wanted it to be more about teaching readers acceptance of difference - and overcoming barriers and pushing boundaries, whatever they are.

“I have learned that if you surround yourself with the right kind of support and the right kind of people, life is just much better even if we can’t change the things that are affecting us in the first place. For me it is my tumour, for Little Nipper it is his size. I want to inspire children to believe that regardless of labels, barriers or ability - everyone will and can have a time to shine.”

Anna’s book, Little Nipper to the Rescue, is available from Amazon and Waterstones.

Anna is one of thousands who signed the Charity’s Open Letter to the government https://action.thebraintumourcharity.org/open-letter-health-minister calling for a National Brain Tumour Strategy