By Jordan Coussins,SWNSlaura Laura Elvin

Copyright birminghammail

Former England footballer Amy Carr, 34, has been given a devastating prognosis of just six to nine months to live after her brain tumour regrew. Amy was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2015 when she collapsed in her bedroom after spotting a spider. Initially, doctors attributed the episode to arachnophobia, but further blackouts at the gym led to the discovery of a grade four astrocytoma, the size of a golf ball. Read more: ‘Quietest’ Birmingham streets which suffer fewest burglaries Following surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Amy believed she had beaten the disease until a recent annual check-up revealed the tumour’s return. The heartbreaking news came shortly after Amy experienced blurred vision and slurred speech, and just weeks before she was due to embark on a 10-day cruise around Naples, Florence and Santorini with her best friend. Adding to her distress, Amy was forced to cancel the trip as she couldn’t secure travel insurance due to her deteriorating health condition. Despite providing medical proof, cruise provider Iglu has allegedly refused to refund Amy and her friend, leaving them £4,000 out of pocket. During her illustrious football career, Amy earned 16 caps playing in goal for England u17 and u19s and also played for Chelsea, Arsenal, and Reading. Amy, from Hemel Hempstead, expressed her frustration, saying: “I’m exhausted with trying – and failing – to make contact with Iglu. “They haven’t responded to either of us. “Even though they told us they can’t give us a refund, they could’ve apologised or organised a voucher. “I’m beyond disappointed with Iglu and their lack of care.” Her best mate Lucy Baker, 35, revealed that Amy had chosen to book the cruise for July 2025 as she’d “always wanted to go to Italy.” They believed a cruise would be less taxing on Amy’s health than backpacking around the country. “Amy knew she was very ill, and cruising is an easy way to get around loads of different places, rather than hopping on trains and planes,” Lucy explained. “We were really looking forward to it.” Lucy shared that Amy even forked out an extra £800 to bring a wheelchair onboard – a fee later refunded by Iglu – because she was “so desperate to go.” However, just one month after booking the cruise, Amy received a grim prognosis from her consultant at the University College London Hospital – she only had six to nine months left to live. Iglu demanded passengers to secure travel insurance before boarding – but due to Amy’s condition, she couldn’t find an insurance provider willing to cover her. “We got in touch with [Iglu] saying we couldn’t get insurance,” Lucy said. “They were just quite heartless, really – they told us we’d have a 100 per cent loss and we weren’t offered any form of refund or voucher. “Amy’s such a good person – in fact, she’s a lovely person – and she didn’t deserve that.” Following being informed they would be unable to secure a refund from Iglu, the duo claim they have received no further communication from the travel company. Amy’s initial symptoms emerged in 2013, with an MRI scan conducted in February 2015 revealing the tumour – which was originally non-cancerous. Come July that year, it had turned malignant and Amy underwent surgery, receiving a 95 per cent chance of survival. Her operation was carried out whilst she remained conscious – using pioneering surgical techniques where the patient’s body is anaesthetised but they stay awake throughout. The procedure left her unable to move or speak for eight days – and when she finally regained her voice, she strangely communicated in her GCSE-level French for a brief period. The growth affected her motor skills, with Amy also reporting she has observed shifts in her character. Amy attended routine appointments, but soon after her examination last year, she started experiencing fuzzy eyesight and unclear speech. She returned for a further appointment in November, when doctors tragically found her tumour had returned. “For the best part of ten years she was clear,” Lucy explained. “She was having regular MRIs. She got the all-clear in her checkup last year, but a couple of weeks later, she began experiencing blurred vision and slurred speech. “Another MRI in November showed the tumour had grown back. “The moment we found out, we told Iglu – we wanted a refund because it was a lot of money for us and they are a multi-million pound company. “[Her August prognosis] made it impossible to get travel insurance.” Amy was accompanied by Lucy and numerous other friends during a five-mile walk to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research on Saturday (27/09) – which Amy has collected over £26,000 for. Amy finished the walk on a mobility scooter. “Amy is such an inspiration to all those around her, she has battled this disease for a long time and all the while has fundraised and raised awareness for Brain Cancer Research,” Lucy said. “She is always willing to help others and is a good friend to so many people. “It’s such a shame she didn’t get to go on the cruise that she was so looking forward to.” Donations can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/amy-carr-4. Iglu did not respond to a request for comment.