A man from the Black Country has revealed how he grew more than a 1ft after undergoing brain tumour surgery. Jamie Connolly always thought his 4ft 1in height was because he was 'small for his age' as a teenager. It wasn't until he suffered a seizure while playing a video game aged 16 that he realised his stature was due to a slow-growing tumour. Medics discovered the mass on his brain following an MRI scan. Mr Connolly, now aged 35, grew by almost 18 inches in just a matter of months after initial surgery in 2004. He underwent three further surgeries over the next decade and now is 5ft 7ins tall. READ MORE: Armed
police scrambled to Tipton bar after 'topless man brandishes machete' The mental health care assistant - who still lives with part of the tumour - said: "I was always little and even when at school I just put it down to being small for my age. I never imagined it was because of a brain tumour. "I later found out the tumour was growing on a part of my brain responsible for important functions, including development and growth. Despite multiple surgeries to remove the slow-growing tumour, it has left me with changes in my vision and as a result, I have to wear glasses. Jamie Connolly as a youngster (Image: Brain Tumour Research) "Part of the tumour is still there as removing it all could have left me with paralysis." Mr Connolly decided to share his story as part of Brain Tumour Awareness Month, which is in March. Mr Connolly, from Rowley Regis , was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma. He is now monitored by regular scans. He is set to hold a bake sale on Friday, March 31 as part of Wear A Hat Day – a hat-themed fundraiser hosted by Brain Tumour Research to mark the end of Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Mr Connolly added: "It’ll be a team effort on the day with my colleagues helping to make the cakes which I will sell whilst wearing a hat and we have pin badges available to buy. "I’m also going to offer a drop-in session for people to ask me questions about brain tumours. I didn’t know a thing about the disease until I was diagnosed. "I feel fortunate that my tumour is low-grade and for as long as I can, I will help fly the flag and raise awareness of the disease." The theme of this year's Wear A Hat Day is to 'look super for science'. Mel Tiley, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research , added: "We’re grateful to Jamie for sharing his story. People can get involved in Wear A Hat Day in so many fun and easy ways, the list really is endless. "Wear a hat and hold a walk, a party, a quiz night or a bake sale. Or get your thinking cap on and come up with something totally unique." READ NEXT: We send out a Black Country newsletter - get it here Murder-accused says he was 'framed after cigarette with his DNA found at Brierley Hill flat murder' - court told Fears grow for missing Telford woman Sebrena Clough as police release footage of last sighting Man in court after great-gran mauled to death by two dogs in Rowley Regis Lucky woman from the West Midlands grabs £40k from £1 bet at Cheltenham Festival Doctor threatened to 'blow up' Wolverhampton MP's office in menacing phone call