Dear ##Contact First Name##,

My name is Mena – I’m a neurological senior physiotherapist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

I worked closely with Stuart right after his surgery, getting him fit enough for rehabilitation.

He’s a patient I will never forget.

Stuart, and the many other patients just like him, are the reason I’m working on my research - which is only possible with the support of people like you.

Let me start by sharing a bit about the type of brain tumour Stuart had. Glioblastoma is a cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. It’s the most aggressive type of brain cancer and sadly, there’s no cure.

I hope very much that you can donate today so more people like Stuart with life threatening conditions can have better access to rehabilitation services specific to their needs – and have a dignifying and meaningful life, however short it may be.

With your support, you are paving the way for researchers like myself to ask questions where there is very little known.

I worked with Stuart to treat his verticality and weakness, known as Lateropulsion. While working with Stuart, I realised that there is a huge gap in rehabilitation services specific to brain tumour patients and became determined to find out more about helping patients like him.

After receiving a research grant from the Foundation – funded by supporters like you – I am investigating the needs of patients like Stu, with the aim to highlight that Lateropulsion is not only common in stroke patients but also in brain tumour patients.

Here’s a bit more about Stuart’s condition…

Lateropulsion: what it is and how it affected Stuart

Lateropulsion is more commonly seen in patients after a stroke. But, like in Stuart’s case, it can happen with brain tumours. It’s also known as ‘Pusher’s Syndrome’.

Patients who have lost the ability to use one side of their body will use their ‘non-affected’ side to push towards their ‘affected’ side. It means they are unable stand up independently.

Pusher’s Syndrome often causes problems with:

• • Sensation

  • Perception

  • Lack of movement on one side of the body (hemiplegia)

  • Visual problems

  • Awareness of where their body is in space.

Usually, patients require longer rehabilitation and specialist treatments.

Stuart’s goal was to be able to stand up at his wedding. He worked very hard with me and other physiotherapists at the rehab hospital in Osborne Park and at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital – and he was able to achieve this. Everyone was in tears at the wedding!

Stuart’s story inspired me to pursue research and shaped my path as an early career clinical researcher.

##Contact First Name##, working with Stuart inspired my research into brain cancer conditions with Lateropulsion – funded by the Charlies grants that are made possible by supporters like you.

My dream is to set up a neuro-oncology service that combines neurosurgery, oncology, and neurology for patients with brain and spinal tumours—so people like Stuart can receive more targeted treatment.

Please donate now to much-needed research, so more patients like Stuart can feel as well and happy as possible in their final days.

Thank you,

Neurological Senior Physiotherapist and Charlies Early Career Researcher

P.S. You can help patients like Stuart can have the best quality and length of life after a life-threatening diagnosis by making a gift to the Foundation today.