Lloyd's road to recovery

Many know Lloyd Wells as "Chubbs," a devoted partner to Talisa Vaughan, loving father to their son Bailey Wells, and proud owner of their dog Nash. I’ve set up this GoFundMe page to reach out and gather support for my sister and her partner, whose lives have been forever changed. The uncertainty of their situation continues to impact them every day, and financial assistance would be greatly appreciated during this challenging time.

Lloyd’s health journey began in March 2024, when he first noticed strange sensations in his right arm and hand. Initially, he thought he had pulled a muscle, but as the months went on, his symptoms repeated. By the end of May, Lloyd experienced another episode lasting about a minute, during which he had no control over his right hand. Talisa recorded this episode, which later proved to be crucial for medical consultations. After this second event, they decided to seek medical help.

The doctors diagnosed Lloyd’s symptoms as focal seizures, and a CT scan revealed a lesion on his brain. He was advised to go to the Emergency Department, as that would be the fastest way to determine what the lesion was. After spending a week in the hospital, undergoing scans and waiting for results, doctors were still uncertain about the lesion’s nature. They suggested waiting another four weeks before a follow-up MRI, as the lesion showed possible signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Eight weeks later, Lloyd and Talisa finally met with Neurosurgeon Dr. Adrian Praeger, who confirmed that the lesion was, in fact, a grade 2 Oligodendroglioma brain tumor with life expectancy ranging from 12 to 15 years after diganosis. Surgery was scheduled within the next 4-6 weeks to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Prior to surgery, Lloyd underwent extensive mapping to determine the location of important functions like speech, as the tumor was located in the front left part of his brain. This area’s proximity to vital speech and motor functions meant that surgery could potentially affect his ability to speak, move his right hand, or even his eyesight.

Lloyd underwent surgery on August 12, which lasted over five hours. Sadly, after waking from the procedure, it was clear he had suffered significant side effects. He struggled with writing, walking, speech, and memory, requiring assistance with basic daily tasks.

For the next two weeks, Lloyd received intensive therapy at Jessie McPherson Hospital, with daily speech, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy sessions. He was then transferred to the Kingston Rehabilitation Centre, where he spent three weeks working hard on his recovery to regain independence and return home to his family. Lloyd is now continuing his outpatient therapy at home.

Lloyd was originally scheduled to begin radiation and chemotherapy at The Alfred Hospital, but he was also offered the opportunity to join a trial for a new drug called Voranigo. This drug is approved in Australia, though not government-funded, and has been shown to prevent the tumor from growing, offering Lloyd more time before radiation treatments are necessary. However, the drug will affect his ability to conceive naturally, so he and Talisa are now considering IVF as their next step if they want to have another child.

Since May, Lloyd has been unable to work due to the tumor and ongoing risk of seizures. He also cannot drive, and there is no clear timeline for when he might be able to return to work. Lloyd has always been the life of the party—known for his hard work and as the main income earner for his family. Unfortunately, during this time, Talisa has also had to take time off work to care for Lloyd, all while dealing with her own heartbreaking challenges, including two miscarriages—one of which was a baby girl they named Harper.

I am creating this page in the hopes of raising funds to help relieve the financial burden on their family as they navigate these difficult circumstances. Financial stress is an added strain during 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.

If you’re able to offer any support to Lloyd, Talisa, and Bailey, your help would mean the world to them. They are incredibly grateful for any assistance during this ongoing battle.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity,

Kristy Vaughan x