A Coatbridge woman who underwent brain surgery while awake has thanked the NHS staff who cared for her, especially one member who was “like a second mum”.

Brooke MacFadyen, 24, underwent Awake Craniotomy, a procedure to remove primary brain tumours, earlier this summer.

She was kept conscious during parts of the seven-hour operation to ensure it went to plan.

She said: "I’ll never forget Sharon.

Brooke was kept conscious during parts of the seven-hour operation to ensure it went to plan (Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) "She’s been amazing throughout this whole process, and I have such a clear memory of seeing her there with me during the operation.

“I’d like to thank the whole team for looking after me, but especially Sharon – in fact she was like a second mum to me.”

She required weeks of waiting before being told how serious the tumour was but has now been given "positive news."

She said: "I will be getting looked after with some future treatment to prevent the tumour coming back, but basically I can look forward now with real confidence."

She required weeks of waiting before being told how serious the tumour was but has now been given positive news (Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) She said the support from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) team was "critical" to her and her family, including mum Kelly, dad Graham, brothers Harry and Jack, boyfriend Dillon, and best friend Robyn.

The operation has given Ms MacFadyen a newfound confidence and focus, leaving her determined to become a primary school teacher.

She said: “Strangely it’s been a really positive experience.

"I’ve been through life-changing surgery and now feel completely different.

“Before I doubted myself so much – I’d get into my own head with things, talk myself out of things.

She said the support from the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) team was "critical" to her and her family (Image: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) “But not now – I now know I’m a really strong person, and super-independent.

"I’ve already booked a holiday to Tenerife with Robyn, and this experience has made it so clear to me that I want to follow my dream to work with children."

Her mum, Kelly, said: "How do you ever repay people like these?

"We’re just so grateful to them and everything they’ve done.

"The NHS gets such a bad rap – it’s sometimes an easy target – but our experience just shows how amazing they all are."