Kieran loved Liverpool FC and the city as a whole (Image: Supplied)
A young man tragically passed away after developing severe headaches and losing his appetite completely.
Kieran Shingler, 26, began feeling poorly on Bonfire Night 2022, though the initial symptoms weren’t particularly concerning, with both he and his long-term girlfriend Abbie Henstock, 27, first assuming he had contracted Covid-19.
When a test came back negative, the couple then presumed he “had the flu”.
It was only after Kieran’s appetite vanished entirely and failed to return that they sought medical advice.
He was subsequently referred to Liverpool for additional treatment, but sadly passed away at a Warrington hospice earlier this month.
Speaking fondly of Kieran, Abbie told the ECHO: “He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He was so cheeky, he was always playing pranks on his family or friends, or winding people up.
“He was such a family man as well and had a good group of friends around him. He was so chilled. He was so funny and gentle – he had that dry sense of humour. He was such a good lad.”
Kieran, who hailed from Warrington, maintained an active and healthy lifestyle but began experiencing illness in November 2022.
Abbie, also from the Cheshire town, explained: “He just had headaches. I remember he was on Sudafed for like a week and it wasn’t really clearing.
“He was into his triathlons, and he was so fit and healthy. He loved going out on his bike. He’d do a 10 hour shift at work and then come home and do a swim session. The headaches were putting him off training.
“He was such a foodie as well. He wasn’t eating, so that’s when we took him to the doctors who then immediately said, you need to go to AandE.”
Doctors initially suspected Kieran might have meningitis, but a CT scan revealed a mass in his brain. Kieran was promptly transferred to the Walton Centre in Liverpool, where he underwent four procedures, including a biopsy.
This confirmed he had a grade three astrocytoma, an aggressive cancerous growth.
Kieran then underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, which began shrinking the tumour, but his latest scan showed it had started growing again.
According to The Brain Tumour Charity, headaches are one of the most common symptoms of a brain tumour. Up to 60% of people living with a brain tumour will experience headaches at some point.
The headaches are not directly caused by the tumour itself, as the brain has no pain receptors.
They’re actually triggered by an increase in pressure on pain-sensitive blood vessels and nerves within the brain. A decreased appetite is also common among those with brain tumours.
Abbie stated: “It didn’t feel real. I remember his mum calling me, saying he’s got a mass in his brain. Then we were just thrown into this world, but at this point we didn’t know it was cancer.
“We were just thinking, oh, it’s just something on his brain, whether it’s a blood clot or something that’s not that vicious. But then obviously it spiralled.”
By December 2022, medics had delivered the devastating news to Kieran’s loved ones that his tumour gave him just 12 months to live.
Abbie recalled that heartbreaking moment: “I remember that day (when we were told). We were in the room with his mum and dad and we just screamed.”
She explained her struggle with the prognosis: “I focus on dates and times, so I was getting really fixated on ‘but you don’t know when it will come’, so I had to learn not to think like that.”
Despite the grim outlook, Kieran’s spirited nature shone through: “But because he was doing so well, you had to train yourself to live it day by day because he was so cheeky and smiley. He did so well after his surgeries.”
Abbie fondly remembered his determination: “I remember after his fourth surgery, he wanted to go out for a run and we were like, no way. But he just wanted to fight it. He wanted to do it. He was so determined.”
Throughout this challenging period, Kieran’s connection with Liverpool FC and the city deepened considerably.
Abbie shared: “He’s met the Liverpool players, he met (Jurgen) Klopp when he was manager. After his radiotherapy finished in 2023, we got a box at Anfield to watch the derby.”
She continued: “He got an award from The Guide Liverpool and we managed to go to that just before he got really ill.”
The couple’s ties to the city ran deep: “For his job, he delivered alcohol and drinks in Liverpool, so we know the city. A charity gave us an overnight stay in the Titanic Hotel. We love the city.”
Together, they launched the fundraising initiative Kieran’s Krew, with Kieran, his family and friends raising over £27,000 for brain tumour charities, including the Brain Tumour Charity. This ensured Kieran’s tale reached countless individuals across the globe.
Abbie revealed: “I don’t think he realised how many people actually knew until earlier this year when someone came up to him and said, are you Kieran from Kieran’s Krew? Sometimes we were stopped in the shop and people said, you’re so inspiring.”
However, Kieran’s condition eventually deteriorated. He passed away on Sunday December 14, with announcements online from Kieran’s Krew about the tragic news prompting hundreds of condolence messages.
Abbie confided: “I can’t go through the replies yet, but I’ve seen how many people it’s reached and the amount of messages that we’re all getting.”
She continued: “It’s so nice to know that we’re all helping other people through dark times. We knew it was going to happen, we just didn’t know when.”
Abbie reflected on their precious time together: “We were fortunate and lucky enough to have two extra years with him. But people who are first diagnosed now, they might see his story and think, oh, there is a chance.”
Abbie remains determined to continue fundraising for various charities, including St. Rocco’s Hospice in Warrington where Kieran spent his final days.
She explained: “We just want to continue his legacy and always keep his name alive. He’ll never be forgotten, he’ll always be with us, but we want to continue sharing his journey.”
Abbie emphasised her ongoing mission: “We want to continue to help other people going through a brain tumor diagnosis. I speak to so many people who’ve lost a partner or a son or a wife or whoever, and relating to those people helps me so much.”