Aussie diagnosed with aggressive cancer seeks funding for flight

A young Australian woman, Shanique Hallgren, is facing a serious health crisis while living in Canada. The 30-year-old visual effects artist recently experienced multiple seizures, which led to a difficult diagnosis of stage 3 high-grade glioma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer. Shanique and her fiancé, James, had planned to return to Australia this year, but her condition has made that more urgent. Shanique’s mother, Tracey Monahan, shared the family's distress regarding her daughter’s sudden illness. She emphasized that Shanique's life has drastically changed, going from a bright future to dealing with brain cancer. The couple had already planned to move back to Australia, but the diagnosis intensified their need to return home. Getting back to Australia is a challenge due to Shanique's medical condition. The tumor is located in her frontal lobe, affecting her motor functions and making it hard for her to walk unaided. Traditional flights are not an option because the pressure in the cabin could worsen her condition. After suffering another seizure, medical professionals advised that only a specially equipped medical flight would be safe for her. However, this medical transport comes with a hefty price tag of around $280,000. To help cover the cost, the family has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds. Tracey noted that Shanique is currently on numerous medications to manage her cancer and seizure symptoms. Brain cancers like gliomas are rare in Australia, and treatments can vary significantly depending on the grade of the tumor.