Monty came into Emma Young’s life last summer, but he’s no friend of hers.

He puts her life at risk everyday and she can’t get rid of him.

You’re probably picturing a big, burly man.

But he is, in fact, a benign tumour on Emma’s brain which has been named after a character from her husband Luke’s favourite film Withnail and I.

The 35-year-old, of Charlotte Street, Sittingbourne, had been suffering severe headaches for six months and seen her GP several times before an MRI scan at the Spire Alexandra Hospital, Chatham, on June 19 last year.

The following day she was told the news that would turn her world upside down.

The results showed she had a meningioma the size of a tennis ball.

Two months later, the former Abbey School pupil underwent 14 hours of surgery at the King’s College Hospital in London.

Despite their best efforts, the team were unable to remove it and a titanium plate was fitted to replace part of her skull which had been removed.

Five weeks later the surgeons tried again. This time they managed to remove 80% of the tumour but she suffered nerve damage which resulted in her left eyelid shutting completely.

She is slowly regaining movement in it.

She said: “They weren’t able to remove it all because it’s wrapped around a main artery.

“I’ve been told if it constricts around it I could have a stroke or drop dead.

“I’m literally living life on a day-to-day basis. It frightens me, but not as much as the thought of my three-year-old son Vinnie not having me around.

“I have an MRI scan every six months. My last one was last Thursday and I won’t find out for three weeks.”

Her mum Kay Leslie, of Spillett Close, Faversham, and parents-in-law June and Terry Young, of Sexburga Drive, Minster, have been helping her get through the last 15 months.

Emma says it has made her relationship stronger with Luke, 38, who she describes as “an absolute rock”.

Losing her memory has been the hardest challenge.

She said: “When Luke went to work I had to have notes on the cupboards reminding me to brush my teeth, Vinnie’s meal times, when to feed the dog.

“Only the other day when we was watching Jimmy Carr on TV I said to Luke: ‘I’d like to see him live’ and he said ‘you did, two years ago’.

“The consultant did say it could take up to two years for my long-term memory to come back and I’m hopeful I will get it back.”

Emma has organised a disco and raffle to help raise money for a charity which has supported her throughout her treatment.

It will be held at The Coniston Hotel, London Road, Sittingbourne, at 7pm on Saturday, October 5. All proceeds will go to brainstrust.

Tickets, which costs £7.50 for adults and £5 for children, are available by calling 07946 400406 or by emailing emma.young1@live.co.uk

The night has been sponsored by Milton Regis Dental Clinic where Emma works as a part-time dental nurse.

If you can’t attend the fundraiser you can make a donation via the website www.justgiving.com/Emma-Young7

Emma has drawn up a bucket list.

She has already completed two of them which was to take her son Vinnie to the Walking with Dinosaurs show at the O2, which she did in December, and meet the actor Danny Dyer which happened while she was at an event in Brighton in August this year.

The rest are as follows:

1) Have a cup of tea and a chat with her favourite actor Ray Winstone at a greasy spoon

2) Ringside seats for a boxing match

3) A trip to New York

4) Drive a brand new Jaguar car for a weekend

5) A second honeymoon at Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club

6) A trip to Scotland with her brother Neal Leslie to visit Leslie Castle

Can you help Emma fulfil her dreams? Contact the newsdesk on 01795 580300.