A teenager had headaches during a heatwave, but they were a sign of a brain tumor. Danielle Andersen, 17, had headaches for five days before going to the hospital in July 2025.

A doctor found something wrong with Danielle's eye movement, and a CT scan showed a slow-growing brain tumor. She had surgery to remove the tumor but was left paralyzed on her left side.

Danielle had a stroke during surgery when three blood vessels were cut. She spent almost two months in the hospital doing physiotherapy and has made a good recovery.

Danielle said she thought her headaches were from dehydration, but they didn't stop even when she drank a lot of water. She was drinking and going to the toilet constantly.

Danielle Andersen

Danielle was in a lot of pain, and people didn't believe her. She thought it might be more than just a dehydration headache, and she was right.

Danielle's dad took her to the hospital, where doctors first thought she had a migraine. But a CT scan showed the brain tumor, which had been there since birth.

Danielle's dad said they didn't understand how serious it was. They thought it would be easy to fix, but they didn't know what was happening.

Danielle had just gotten into a performing arts college and wanted to start her first term. She decided to delay her surgery and was told the risks were very low.

Danielle didn't want people to know about her brain tumor. She just wanted to be like everyone else.

Danielle went to all her classes and was still dancing the week before her surgery. When she woke up, she couldn't move her left arm.

The doctors said it was just a bit of weakness that would go away soon.

But four days later, Danielle was paralyzed on her entire left side. She couldn't move her arm, leg, or hand, and her eye was shut.

An MRI scan showed that three blood vessels had been cut during surgery, causing a stroke. It was just before Christmas.

Danielle had surgery to remove the tumor but was left paralyzed on her left side.

Danielle's dad said they were told she would be home by December 22, but they didn't leave the hospital until February 19.

The doctors said Danielle might not dance again and might not recover fully on her left side.

Danielle's dad said they wouldn't give up on her dreams.

Danielle's recovery required her brain to rebuild its connections to her left side. Her family and physiotherapists helped her move her limbs every day.

Danielle Andersen in hospital

Danielle's dad said the physiotherapists think she's recovering quickly because her family is helping. Six months later, Danielle is running, jumping, and dancing again.

Danielle took a year off college to focus on her recovery and will start again in September with her sister.

Danielle's brain scan

Danielle said her physiotherapy is now like dancing again. She can move her arm by herself now.

The family is raising money for private physiotherapy. A dancer needs six hours of rehabilitation daily, which is more than the NHS can provide.

To donate to Danielle's fundraiser, visit the website.

The hospital was contacted for a response.