Model speaks exclusively to the Sunday People about how her brain surgery changed her personality. Kerri went from a playboy party girl to prude!
When Kerri Parker flicks through her pictures of herself as a playboy model stood next to Hugh Heffner she experiences a sudden pang of sadness. For years, the 30-year-old from Norwich enjoyed a jet setting life-style between LA and the UK, rubbing shoulders with celebs like Leonardo Dicaprio on the way. But the glamorous world of modelling seems like a world away from Kerri’s life now…
In October 2013, Kerri found out she was suffering from grade 2 brain tumour. Her world came crashing down and she had to move back in with her mum whilst she underwent life-saving treatment.
In February 2014, Kerry underwent brain surgery to have the 4 cm tumour removed. Although the operation was a success, Kerri says she lost more than the brain tumour. Bizarrely, she lost her personality too.
Last week, Kerri told the Sunday People (arranged through Talk to the Press) how after the surgery she went off people she used to hang out with, hated films she used to love and didn’t enjoy dressing up in glamorous dresses and going out partying anymore.
Now, almost nine months on from having the surgery, instead of clubbing and drinking with her mates Kerri spends her weekends relaxing at home with her mum. What’s more, it’s even effecting her model work as Kerri used to love strutting her stuff as a beauty queen on the stage but now hates the limelight and now shies away.
In a desperate bid to get back to her old self, last month Kerri competed in a beauty pageant but she hated every second and was even bored while on stage. She says: ‘When I recovered from the operation, I was a different person. I had no confidence and hated the thought of modelling. I went to the pageant in August because I thought it might be good for me to get back into modelling, but when I was there I just felt above it all. I was bored. I also hate leaving the house and have almost become agoraphobic, whereas I used to be the heart and soul of the party.’
‘I’m making steps to get my old life back and I am moving out of my mum’s in Durham next month and back to Norwich. But I feel different in myself. It was terrifying having brain cancer and it is scary that I have completely changed, but I am trying to stay positive.’
‘They say the survival rate for people with brain cancer is 13.5 per cent for the first five years. It is a scary statistic but I am just trying to stay strong.’
If you’ve experienced something similar to Kerri or would like to share your extraordinary story, please email message@talktothepress.com or fill out the form on the right. One of our writers will get back to you as quickly as possible and we ask you not to contact any other journalists, agencies, or publications directly before we’ve told you if it’s something we can help with.
If you would like any advice about what types of stories typically sell to the press, read our ‘What Types of Stories Sell‘ page. We will consider any story, but it’s a useful guide if you’re unsure.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
