A YEAR ago lying in a hospital bed with a brain tumour it was hard for Alisha Galbraith to imagine walking down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams.

At that moment she had only one wish, and that was to live.

The 28-year-old should have been flicking through bridal magazines and planning her wedding to fiancé Ross Davidson. Instead she was fighting for her life.

Alisha moved from Skirling to Peebles and was thrilled when Ross got down on one knee and proposed.

With a beaming smile she said yes, but tragedy was about to hit the newly engaged couple.

In September last year Alisha was delivered a devastating blow - she had a brain tumour.

She told the Peeblesshire News that there was less than a week between her diagnosis and surgery to remove the tumour.

Alisha was due to meet the neurosurgeon to discuss the surgery but her health deteriorated rapidly after the initial diagnosis, and she was rushed to hospital and put into an induced coma.

The operation to remove the tumour took place the following day, and Alisha remained in an induced coma for two weeks.

It was a worrying time for Alisha’s fiancé and family as they patiently waited for her to wake.

“After I woke up I was told that I was in Edinburgh and doctors told me that I had a tumour and it had been removed,” said Alisha.

“Ross, my mum and dad then began to remind me of what happened and little bits started to come back to me.

“My family were all very worried but say they tried to remain positive, although they didn’t know what was going to happen. They never imagined the situation would get as serious as it did.”

But when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, and Ross proved he’d climb any mountain for his fiancé by battling through Tough Mudder to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity.

Thankful that Alisha survived the operation, Ross undertook the gruelling 10k challenge at Drumlanrig Castle and braved obstacles such as the Artic Enema, Mudder Horn, Electric Shock Therapy, Cage Crawl, and Everest!

Alisha said the event helped her forget the traumatic time she had endured.

“I was so proud watching him, I didn’t really think about what I had been through much because I just felt so sorry for Ross. He’s a bit of a clean freak so he hates getting anything muddy!

She added: “He found it hard but said there was a lovely atmosphere and strong team spirit as there are so many people doing it for charities.”

Despite being exhausted and caked in mud, Ross made it across the finish line and raised just over £1,713 for the charity.

Alisha added: “It was just so nice that out of our bad situation he wanted to create good. As a family we know first-hand how much the money means.”

It’s been nearly a year since her operation and Alisha is thankful she lived to tell the tale.

On Friday, August 30 Alisha Galbraith stood at the stop of the aisle in Cornhill Castle, an elegant vision in ivory.

Her fairy-tale ending was about to come true as she glided towards her hero Ross and became Mrs Davidson.

… and they lived happily ever after. The end.