A mother from Hetton-le-Hole, Sunderland, has found solace in running a homemade bakery from her garden shed as she grapples with an inoperable brain aneurysm. Megan Jackson, a registered nurse currently on maternity leave, was diagnosed with the life-threatening condition last year after experiencing severe headaches.
Faced with the daunting prospect of a potential stroke, Megan has turned to baking as a “coping mechanism,” creating and selling an assortment of homemade treats through an honesty-box system from her shed. The venture, which has attracted hundreds of customers, not only provides a much-needed distraction but also offers the possibility of financial support should Megan be unable to return to her nursing job.
“I started making little boxes [of food] for people, which went crazy, started making a little bit more, and it hasn’t stopped,” Megan said. “It just feels I haven’t got the worry of the stress of the aneurysm. I totally shut off and my mind is focused.”
Megan was warned by doctors that stress could increase the risk of a stroke, prompting her to seek solace in the kitchen. With the support of her husband, Liam, Megan has been working around the clock to fulfil the growing demand for her baked goods, which range from cakes and biscuits to savoury items.
The 29-year-old mother was diagnosed with a 5mm-wide brain aneurysm in March 2021 after experiencing severe headaches and a noticeable difference in the size of her pupils. Medics have deemed the aneurysm too risky to operate on due to its size, leaving Megan to manage the condition through daily medication and the therapeutic process of baking.
“I and my husband Liam had cried when I got the diagnosis, and my first thought had been who would look after my toddler ‘if I die’,” Megan recalled. “Baking brings me total peace, and I spend time in the kitchen ‘cracking on’.”
The outpouring of support from the local community has been a source of comfort for Megan, who has been touched by the hundreds of people who have visited her shed to purchase her homemade treats. As she navigates the challenges posed by her brain condition, Megan’s resilience and determination to provide for her family have been truly inspiring.
