talkSPORT presenter Rachael Downie reveals she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour after collapsing on holiday: 'I thought I wouldn't see my little girl grow up'

talkSPORT presenter Rachael Downie has revealed she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour after collapsing on holiday. The Motorsports star, 41, had jetted to Greece with her husband Simon and two-year-old daughter Rose when to the horror of her loved ones and fellow passengers, she suffered a seizure just as the plane landed. After being rushed to a local hospital, Rachael was shocked to learn that a CT scan had discovered a large 6.7cm tumour on her brain's right frontal lobe. Rachael, who had no symptoms before her seizure, exclusively told the Daily Mail that Greek doctors showed her a scan of her brain with what looked like a 'large cloud' as she and her husband were told the news. 'My husband got very emotional at that point but I was still in complete shock,' Rachael recalled. 'I don't get sick, not even a cold...'When you hear brain tumour, you think of the worst case, so I think I just went in a state of utter denial from that point. I've got a little girl, I don't want her to see me get upset.' talkSPORT presenter Rachael Downie has revealed she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour after collapsing on holiday Rachael was admitted to surgery in September and after a four-hour operation, her tumour was removed but life as she knew it will never be the same going forward After spending the night in observation, Rachael was given the all-clear to fly back to the UK, where she was admitted to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and booked in for a right frontal craniotomy and resection of the tumour.Rachael explained that she struggled in the lead-up to the surgery, putting plans in place for her daughter if the worst should happen. She shared: 'I had to look at the things I wanted for my little girl in case I wasn't there to see her grow up. I looked at the women around me and had to decide who was going to teach my little girl about periods or help buy her first bra - a little girl needs her mum for things like that. I had to remind my husband what school I’d want her to go to. 'You think you have all the time in the world, but at this time, I had no idea what my future looked like.'I was thinking "am I going to die from this? Will I not see my little girl grow up? Will she forget me?"' Rachael was admitted to surgery in September and after a four-hour operation, her tumour was removed. During her hospital stay, Rachael was visited by daughter Rose and pretended she was dressed up in a Halloween costume so that she wouldn't be scared of seeing her covered in bandages. After five days on the ward, during which she briefly lost the use of her left hand, Rachael was able to return home and learnt the following week her tumour had thankfully been non-cancerous.However, that wasn't the end of Rachael's journey. She learnt that she had a Grade 2 Astrocytoma – a type of brain tumour that can develop in adults and children. As the tumour has a chance of returning, Rachael is now on anti-seizure medication for the rest of her life and will require MRI scans every six months to monitor any regrowth. Frustratingly, Rachael has no way of knowing how long she had the tumour but said the medication and MRI check ups she'll forever need are a 'small price to pay' for her health. The Motorsports star, 41, had jetted to Greece with her husband Simon and daughter Rose when to the horror of her loved ones she suffered a seizure just as the plane landed During her hospital stay, Rachael was visited by daughter Rose and pretended she was dressed up in a Halloween costume so that she wouldn't be scared of seeing her covered in bandagesIt's been nearly two months since Rachael had the surgery and she has had to be careful not to overexert herself. She explained: 'The hardest part is I haven't been able to pick up my little girl. And I'm not allowed to be alone with her in case I have a seizure so we've had to hire outside help. 'I've not been able to pick her up and cuddle her and how do you explain that to a two-year-old? 'I just said to her, Mummy's got boo-boos on her head and she understands to be gentle around my head.'I also can't drive for a year because I'm at risk of another seizure and my main source of work is motorsports so it's been difficult.'Soon, Rachael will be given the all-clear to hold her daughter again, with the presenter explaining she's been counting down the days. While she is still adjusting to the new normal, Rachael said she feels incredibly lucky to have survived her ordeal and now wants to help raise awareness for Brain Tumour Research, a UK charity focused on finding a cure for all types of brain tumours. Rachael explained: 'I’d like to think that I hopefully can bring some positivity to a brain tumour diagnosis, for those going through the same, a non cancerous outcome is possible.'Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer and one in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. For more information on Brain Tumour Research and to donate to the charity, visit https://braintumourresearch.org