What started as strange sensations in a tradie’s right arm and hand has now led to the crushing diagnosis of a brain tumor and possible multiple sclerosis.
Hardworking Victorian father Lloyd Wells, better known as ‘Chubbs’ to his family and friends, thought he had just done his best working for his roofing company.
But as the months passed, the symptoms returned.
In late May, Mr. Wells had another episode in which he had no control of his right hand for a full minute.
It was then that Mr Wells and his partner Talisa Vaughan decided to seek medical attention.
Doctors discovered that Mr Wells’ symptoms were in fact seizures and a CT scan revealed a lesion in his brain.
After a visit to the emergency department, Mr Wells spent a week in hospital where he underwent multiple scans.
Eight weeks later, Mr Wells and Ms Vaughan met with a neurosurgeon confirmed that the lesion was a grade 2 Oligodendroglioma brain tumor.
Lloyd Wells thought he had just flexed a muscle at his roofing company. Tragically, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (Mr Wells is pictured with his partner Talisa Vaughan and son Bailey)
Mr Wells was told he had 12 to 15 years to live, and that the lesion could also lead to multiple sclerosis (MS).
Mr Wells underwent a five-hour operation on August 12 and when he woke up it was clear he was having serious side effects.
He had difficulty walking, speaking and writing and his memory was also severely affected, requiring assistance with basic daily tasks.
Mr Wells received intensive therapy over the next two weeks, including daily speech, occupational therapy and physiotherapy sessions, and a further three weeks in a rehabilitation center before he was able to return home to his partner and young son.
He was originally going to start radiation and chemotherapy, but he has been given the opportunity to participate in a trial for a new drug called Voranigo.
The drug is approved in Australia, although not government funded, and has been shown to prevent tumor growth.
His family hopes this will buy Wells more time before radiation treatments are inevitable.
Unfortunately, the drug has the side effect of affecting Mr Wells’ ability to conceive naturally, so he and his partner are now considering IVF if they want to have another child.
Due to the tumor and the risk of seizures, Mr Wells has not been able to work since May.
He is the main source of income for his family, and Mrs Vaughan has also had to take time off work to care for him.
Ms Vaughan has also faced heartbreaking challenges of her own, including two miscarriages.
To ease the couple’s financial burden, Mrs. Vaughan’s sister Kristy has a GoFundMe page.
“Financial stress is an added burden at such an uncertain time, and any support would allow Lloyd and Talisa to focus on his treatment and recovery, with the hope that he will eventually return to his roofing business,” she wrote.
“They are incredibly grateful for all the help during this ongoing battle.”
The fundraiser has raised just under $20,000 so far.