A nine-year-old boy, Thomas Pearce, tragically lost his battle with a brain tumour after experiencing symptoms such as slurred speech, memory issues, and difficulty with basic tasks like swimming. Thomas, described as vibrant and mischievous, began showing subtle signs of illness in February 2024, with his mother, Louise, noticing delays in his speech and a slight hand tremor.
Concern grew when Thomas started forgetting things, leading Louise to rush him to Poole Hospital, where a CT scan revealed a brain mass. Further examinations at Southampton Hospital unveiled a high-grade glioma, a malignant brain tumour, prompting six weeks of radiotherapy and subsequent chemotherapy treatments.
Despite the efforts, on September 12, 2024, Thomas’s family received devastating news that the cancer had aggressively spread. Tragically, Thomas passed away at home on November 16, 2024, just nine months after his diagnosis. In honor of their son, Louise and her husband, Gary, will participate in the Brain Tumour Research New Forest Walk of Hope to raise awareness about childhood cancer.
Reflecting on their loss, Louise, a financial advisor, emphasized the profound impact of losing Thomas prematurely and highlighted the urgent need for better research and funding in the fight against brain tumours. The Pearce family, joined by Thomas’s brothers, is actively supporting Brain Tumour Research’s fundraising efforts to drive awareness and critical research initiatives.
Letty Greenfield, a community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, expressed empathy for families like the Pearces and called for increased public support during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Individuals can contribute to the cause by supporting events like the Walk of Hope and donating to the Pearce family’s JustGiving page dedicated to raising essential funds for Brain Tumour Research.