Danielle Laidley shares diagnosis of rare brain tumour
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Danielle Laidley shares diagnosis of rare brain tumour
Former AFL player and coach Danielle Laidley has revealed she needs surgery for a rare brain tumor.
The 58-year-old shared her health issues on The Imperfects Podcast, which she was introduced to by her partner Donna.
On the episode, she shares how she found the strength to live authentically for herself and become a role model for others.
Speaking with hosts Hugh, Ryan, and Josh, Danielle started having headaches in October last year.
After a series of scans, she was diagnosed with a benign tumour, subependymoma.
Admitting on the podcast that she wanted to spread awareness.
“It’s probably time not to keep private but to put it out there, like I’ve done with the rest of my life,” Danielle said,
“To let people know and understand, you can go through these things.”
“But with the right care and empathy and team around you, everything’s going to be OK.”
Laidley’s surgeon said, “It’s not going to kill me, but being on my spinal cord, it has to come out.”
“It’s sort of like walking around with a stone in your shoe.”
“Some days it really hurts and other days it’s okay.”
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‘It really knocked our socks off. ‘
Danielle had to wait three weeks to learn about the rare, slow-growing tumor.
This podcast is the first time she publicly shared her situation and admits the experience was a shock.
“When you say brain tumour, it’s like getting hit over the head with a sledgehammer.”
After spending time with her surgeon, she gained perspective on what was happening.
“We walked out of there thinking it’s a brain tumour but we’re going to be ok,” she said.
“That was a big relief, but it really knocked our socks off.
“You start to think what do I need to do to wind everything up and that sort of stuff.
“That took its toll, so to hear that was good.”
“But then now and again I’ll think ‘gee, I’ve got a brain tumour’, which is the downside of it.
“But the upside is, a great upside, it can be fixed and we can get on with our life.”
Laidley shared that she was unable to be a part of this year’s ChillOut Festival Youth Muster because of the tumour.
“I was supposed to be doing an event supporting diverse youth, and I just couldn’t get out of bed.”
The podcast is both powerful and inspirational, not only because of how Danielle authentically shares her experiences, but because of the hosts as well.
Posting the episode on Transgender Day of Visability, Hugh, Ryan, and Josh do an excellent job celebrating her life, struggles and resilience.
Source: YouTube
‘I had feelings from the age of five or six’.
Danielle Laidley had a very successful men’s AFL football career and came out as transgender later in her life.
She went on to become one of the league’s youngest-ever head coaches at just 36.
But despite her success on the field, she suffered from gender dysphoria off the field.
In 2020, Danielle was arrested on accusations of stalking amid a drug addiction battle.
A Victorian police officer leaked photos of Danielle while in custody.
Wearing a dress, wig and makeup, her gender identity was not public knowledge at that time.
The photos publicly outing Danielle as transgender went viral and were published on the front pages of newspapers and websites.
Danielle sued Victoria Police over the photographs and received a confidential financial settlement from Victoria Police.
On The Imperfects Podcast, she recounted her struggles with gender dysphoria from a young age.
“I had these feelings from five or six years of age,” she said,
“Looking in the mirror and what I am seeing is not what I am feeling.”
Danielle recounted stealing nail polish at her mother’s Avon party as the first time she had an inclination of who she was.
“You get to a place when you recognise, just from a slice of nail polish, there was a sense of peace and calmness.”
Download or live stream Danielle Laidley’s episode of The Imperfects Podcast here.
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