Precision brain surgery technology helping kids thrive.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Precision brain surgery technology helping kids thrive.
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Three years after Euroz Hartleys helped PCHF fund state-of-the-art electromagnetic (EM) navigation technology at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH), the impact of this tech continues to transform the lives of some of our state’s youngest and most vulnerable patients.
Funded thanks to Euroz Hartleys’ Commission for a Cause event, advanced EM navigation software was introduced at PCH in 2023, giving neurosurgeons real-time guidance during complex procedures on infants and children.
Today, the technology is an invaluable tool in procedures including tumour removal, shunt insertion and epilepsy surgery.
PCH Neurosurgeon Dr Snigdha Saha said the software’s advanced face-mapping technology significantly improves surgical accuracy, while also helping prevent complications and reducing the likelihood of repeat surgery.
For some of PCH’s smallest and most vulnerable patients, it’s proven life changing.
Meet Otis.
One of the first kids to benefit was Otis, who underwent surgery at just five months old to treat hydrocephalus, a potentially life-threatening build-up of fluid on the brain.
Using the EM navigation system, surgeons precisely inserted a shunt to drain the excess fluid and relieve the dangerous pressure.
His mum, Jessie, said that the change after the surgery was almost immediate.
“Although his hydrocephalus will need to be managed for life, his recovery was incredible,” Jessie said. “He was back home in less than 24 hours and started to completely turn around.”
Now three years old, Otis is walking, running and thriving, with a love of the outdoors and dressing up as Buzz Lightyear.
“Seeing him go through surgery at just five months old was terrifying,” Jessie said. “Looking back, I wish we had done it sooner. He would have been sleeping better, feeling better and developing better.”
Meet Jenson.
Three-year-old Jenson also benefited from the technology after suffering a devastating brain bleed following an accidental fall from a bed at just 10 months old.
He underwent emergency surgery before requiring multiple further operations, including a craniectomy and shunt surgery to manage ongoing complications caused by fluid on his brain.
His mum, Ellianne, said doctors initially didn’t know what his future would hold.
“Initially he seemed fine. He had no external injuries, so we had no idea how bad it really was, but he went downhill quite quickly,” she said.
“When he was in ICU, the medical team didn’t know what the outcome would be. His brain had been without oxygen for so long it was damaged, and they thought he might not regain feeling in his left side.”
However, against the odds, Jenson made an extraordinary recovery.
“If you met him now, you wouldn’t know what he’s gone through,” Ellianne said. “He’s shown no development delays and has gone from the worst-case scenario to the best outcome.”
“I can’t even put how grateful we are into words. It’s been a miracle really. Knowing surgeons have access to equipment like this, which makes these operations even more accurate, it’s a huge relief and reassurance.”
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson said the stories of kids like Otis and Jenson demonstrate the lasting impact of philanthropy.
“The support of Euroz Hartleys Foundation and Commission for a Cause has helped ensure WA kids have access to world-class innovation right here at home,” he said.
“Three years on, we’re seeing the real impact of that investment through the stories of kids who are thriving because their surgeons had access to the best possible technology.”
This year, Euroz Hartleys celebrates 20 years of community giving and more than $2 million raised through Commission for a Cause.
Its support for PCHF continues in 2026, with this year’s contribution helping fund the Foundation’s Pump Program, providing life-changing insulin pumps for children and teenagers living with type 1 diabetes across Western Australia.
To help fund more life-saving technology for WA kids, visit pchf.org.au/donate