One of the hardest things about being diagnosed with glioblastoma is how small the club is. Very few people truly understand what you’re going through, so naturally you look for those who do.
That’s how I came across Theo Burrell.
Unless you have glioblastoma, or you’re a regular viewer of The Antiques Roadshow, her name may not mean very much to you.
To me, though, she became a real source of inspiration.
Theo was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2022. She was just 35 years old and had a 19 month old son. She was from the UK and was an antiques specialist who had appeared several times on the Antiques Roadshow!
In 2023, she became a patron of Brain Tumour Research – a charity dedicated to curing the disease.
I reached out to her on Instagram, not really expecting a reply. Instead, she responded with such warmth, kindness and positivity that she instantly lifted my spirits.
In December 2024, Theo found out that her glioblastoma was regrowing and was started back on chemotherapy. Six months later, in June 2025, Theo found out that the chemo was working, when her most recent scan showed no active cancer cells. In October 2025, as she completed ten months of chemo, her scans continued to be clear.
Unfortunately a week before Christmas, in December 2025, Theo got the dreaded news that her tumour had started to regrow,so she started January 2026 with a second brain surgery.
In March 2026 she married her long term partner Alex. On 6 May 2026, we swapped a few messages on Instagram, I didn’t know it at the time, but they would be the last messages I would get from her.
Theo passed away on Wednesday 8 July 2026.
Theo’s passing came as a huge shock to me. Although I knew how aggressive glioblastoma can be, she had seemed to be doing so well for so long that I think, subconsciously, I’d started to believe she might somehow beat it. As recently as October 2025 her scans were showing no active cancer cells.
Thankfully, I continue to feel well. I still run, I still laugh, and I still feel very much like myself. But Theo’s death is a reminder that glioblastoma is an unpredictable disease, and none of us knows what tomorrow will bring.
If there’s one thing this has reinforced for me, it’s that we shouldn’t wait for “one day”. We should tell people we love them, meet friends for coffee, go for the run, book the holiday and make the memories while we can.
My thoughts are with Alex, their son, and everyone who loved her.
I hope they know that Theo’s kindness reached far beyond the people she met in person. It reached people like me, and I know I’m only one of many whose journey was made a little easier because of her generosity, her positivity and the hope she gave us.
Thank you, Theo.
Further Reading
Read more about Theo in these news reports by BBC News and Sky News.
Thank you for sharing this Steve, a very moving read. I’m so sorry to hear about Theo who sounds like a really wonderful person.