At 30 years old, Paige Footner is more than just a talented circus performer—she’s also a paramedic, a role that constantly puts her face-to-face with emergencies. But in June, she found herself on the receiving end of a diagnosis no one could’ve seen coming.
Just before she was set to perform at the Edinburgh Festival—a dream gig she’d trained months for—Paige learned she had a benign brain tumor, discovered through a series of unlikely events. She shared her story with FEMAIL, and it’s nothing short of remarkable.
🎧 It Started With a ‘Whooshing’ Sound
For four years, Paige had been living with tinnitus, a condition that causes persistent sound in the ears. But hers was different—pulsatile tinnitus, which sounded more like a heartbeat or whooshing rather than ringing.
Paige had to cancel her circus performer trip to Edibrugh Festival (@paigefootner Instagram)
She didn’t ignore it. Paige brought it up to her doctor, who then referred her to an ENT specialist. The specialist noticed nerve damage in her left ear, possibly from a mild head injury she sustained while training.
Just to be safe, she booked an MRI scan on June 6.
“I had unilateral pulsatile tinnitus in one ear. It wasn’t ringing—it was more of a whooshing and pulsing,” Paige explained.
🧠 Surprise Diagnosis: A Tumor in the Brain
The MRI results revealed a 4cm tumor in her posterior right frontal lobe—a complete shock, considering it wasn’t even related to her ear issues. In fact, the tumor had caused no symptoms at all.
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“It was a completely incidental finding,” said Paige. “Both neurosurgeons said I was incredibly lucky. If it weren’t for the tinnitus, we wouldn’t have caught it.”
The tumor was benign, but its location made early detection critical. Without the scan, it might have remained hidden until it was too late.
💔 Dreams Deferred, But Life Saved
Unfortunately, Paige had to cancel her Edinburgh Festival performance—a gig she’d already spent $13,000 preparing for, including travel and training. She hadn’t even purchased travel insurance yet.
“The circus is more than a full-time job. And at 30, I’m considered old in the industry. I’ve been giving it everything,” she shared.
Paige is recovering from brain tumor (@paigefootner Instagram)
Now, Paige is recovering from successful brain surgery, thankful that something as seemingly small as ear noise may have saved her life.
📌 Takeaway
This incredible story is a reminder not to ignore subtle body signals. What seems minor—like tinnitus—could be a clue to something bigger.
🧠 Learn more about brain tumors and symptoms
