Bereaved Mum Urges for Essential Research on Brain Tumours
Louise Pearce calls for more research into brain tumours after losing her son Thomas
Bournemouth, UK, Brain Tumours, Thomas Pearce, NHS, The Brain Tumour Charity
Bournemouth: Louise Pearce’s son Thomas faced a tough battle with a brain tumour. It took away his speech, mobility, and eventually his life.
Thomas loved animals, flags, and Lego. He was diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma after he started having speech issues in early 2024.
Louise noticed Thomas was speaking slowly. She took him to the doctor, but there were no concerns. Then, he developed a tremor in his right hand, prompting her to call for help.
On February 12, doctors at Poole Hospital found an inoperable tumour in his brain. Thomas went through radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but by September, the tumour had spread.
Louise described the disease as cruel. Thomas struggled to speak, which frustrated him. His tremor made it hard for him to write, colour, or play with Lego.
As his condition worsened, Thomas needed a wheelchair by April and eventually lost the use of his legs.
Despite the challenges, a bright moment was when Thomas set up a lemonade stand. Inspired by a YouTube film, he raised around £1000 for the homeless and family trips.
Louise wants to keep Thomas’s memory alive and raise awareness about brain tumours. They are the leading cause of cancer deaths in people under 40 in the UK.
Thomas passed away peacefully on November 16, with his pain managed well. Louise praised the NHS for their excellent palliative care.
A spokesperson for The Brain Tumour Charity highlighted that malignant brain tumours are the biggest cause of death in the under 40s. They stressed the need for funding research to improve survival rates.
Since 2017, The Brain Tumour Charity has invested £50 million into research programs to help improve outcomes for those affected by brain tumours.