I was 35, fit and healthy when I noticed a strange symptom that turned my life upside down. Now I'm stranded in Australia and the plane trip home could make me blind

Tanja Dittfeld was fit, healthy and living the dream this year having moved from Denmark to Australia as part of her PhD studies. Just over a week later, on November 3, she received another devastating blow when she was diagnosed with Cushing's Disease, a rare hormonal condition caused by the tumour, which has left her with blurred vision, fatigue, bodily weakness, headaches, muscle loss and a 'hunch' in her back. Normally pituitary tumours are smaller than 1cm, but Tanja's is more than twice that size; it has caused excess production of the stress hormone cortisol, which has left her constantly in 'fight-or-flight mode' and 'unable to unwind'. The tumour has caused excess production of the stress hormone cortisol, leaving Tanja constantly in 'fight or flight mode' and being 'unable to unwind' Her neurosurgeon strongly advised against returning home as the pressure from a flight could cause the tumour to burst and may cause blindness - so she made the difficult decision to stay in Australia. Her neurosurgeon strongly advised against returning home as the pressure from a flight could cause the tumour to burst and may cause blindness Tanja's insurance company initially refused to cover any of the costs of surgery and hospitalisation, so three close friends to set up a GoFundMe campaign for her.