‘Blindsided by a Sledgehammer’: Danielle Laidley Opens Up About Her ‘Extremely Rare’ Brain Tumour Diagnosis

Former North Melbourne player and coach, Danielle Laidley, has announced that she has been diagnosed with a brain tumour requiring surgical intervention for removal.

In an interview on LiSTNR’s The Imperfects podcast, Laidley shared that she was recently diagnosed with a subependymoma, a rare and benign brain tumour situated on her spinal cord.

Due to their specific location, subependymomas can hinder the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and exert pressure on nearby structures, leading to headaches and other symptoms.

Laidley mentioned that her health concerns began with headaches she experienced last year, leading her to seek medical attention. Subsequent scans and MRIs revealed the presence of the non-cancerous tumour.

“I started getting headaches around October last year, so I went to see the doctors and had scans and MRIs done. They eventually discovered a brain tumour at the base of my skull, on my spinal cord,” she recounted.

“The type of tumour is called a subependymoma, which is quite rare. I can share a quote from my surgeon: It’s not life-threatening, but due to its location on my spinal cord, it has to be removed. It’s akin to walking around with a stone in your shoe.”

“Some days it’s quite painful, and other days it’s manageable.”

Watch the Stan Original Documentary Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes only on Stan.

After waiting three weeks for confirmation regarding her diagnosis, Laidley and her partner, Donna, reflected on the necessary preparations they needed to make.

“It was quite direct; ‘you have a brain tumour, here’s your referral, off you go’. Donna and I fell silent,” she shared.

“For Donna to be silent speaks volumes; it means something is not right. We drove home in silence for quite some time,” she added.

“At that moment, we were unaware of the specifics regarding the tumour. Hearing ‘brain tumour’ felt like being hit over the head with a sledgehammer.”

After speaking with her surgeon, many of their fears were calmed.

“We left that appointment feeling reassured with the understanding that, although it is a brain tumour, we’re going to be alright,” Laidley recounted.

“That brought immense relief but it truly shook us to our core.

“You begin to ponder what needs to be done to put everything in order, and that weighs heavily on you. Hearing the diagnosis was a relief, though.

“But every now and again, I catch myself thinking, ‘Wow, I’ve got a brain tumour’, which is the challenging aspect. The silver lining is that it can be fixed, and we can carry on with our lives.”

Laidley had aspirations to return to coaching within the AFLW in 2023, but after missing out on premier roles with both the Eagles and Bulldogs, she shifted her focus to other projects.

Currently residing in Perth, the 58-year-old is running a supported independent living business for people with disabilities, contributing football analysis for the West Australian, and championing the LGBTQIA+ community.

Drafted by West Coast, Laidley made her VFL/AFL debut in 1987, later requesting a trade to North Melbourne before the 1993 season.

She played an instrumental role in the club’s premiership victory in 1996, while simultaneously managing her struggle with gender dysphoria.

“I believe it’s essential not to keep [my diagnosis] to myself, but rather to share it like I have throughout various aspects of my life, to help others understand that it is possible to face challenges, and with the right support and care, everything can turn out alright,” she stated.