Aspiring comedian, 25, now receiving palliative care

AN aspiring comedian from Nettlebed who had been receiving cancer treatment is now receiving palliative care.

Lewis, 25, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2020 and has undergone four operations to remove the disease, which spread to his stomach, lungs and heart.

He received treatment at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford until the summer of last year before being referred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

Lewis then endured intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a brain tumour, which decreased its size, but over time the treatment stopped being effective.

The family have been told that there are no other treatment options available and are now being looked after by the Sue Ryder charity’s palliative care team.

His father George, 52, a self-employed painter and decorator, has been his full-time carer at their home for the last month.

Mr Goodall said that the treatment has been “mentally exhausting” for the entire family. He said: “I used to be able to work, which Lewis turned into a joke as well, saying I can’t go anywhere without two coats. It was like a coping mechanism where you could escape for a little while.

“Since we’ve had the bad news that there’s no more treatment, the tumour marker levels in the blood tests have started to rocket up again. That’s when they would normally crack on with the chemotherapy straight away and it knocks it right back down again, but he’s just not responding to anything anymore. It’s too harmful to him to carry on.

“I’ve cried every day like any parent would. Someone’s only got to say something nice or send a message. People say ‘How can you get through this’, well, when it’s your child, you will do absolutely anything possible to make life as easy as possible. That’s exactly what we’re doing. We don’t need him to see us like that, we need to be strong for him.”

He added: “There’s no miracle out there and we have to go home and enjoy it while he’s well enough.”

Mr Goodall said that Sue Ryder staff, which has a hub based in Wallingford, have prepared the home.

He said: “We’re fully aware of what Sue Ryder does and they’re on board now and have taken over completely. They have covered everything from emotional support to the medical side of it.

“Both our exterior doors have a green sticker that tells every healthcare professional where to find all the information that they need before they come so they don’t have to ask any questions about Lewis, what he wants or doesn’t want because everything about him is on his form.”

A stair lift was also installed for Lewis as he can no longer walk and needs a mobility scooter or wheelchair to get around.

Mr Goodall said: “Climbing the stairs was like climbing Everest for him. His legs have nearly packed up, that’s the stage he’s at now. He is just getting weaker and weaker.

“We’ve been told to go and do anything he wants when he wants, so a couple of times a week, we will get to a shop with mum’s scooter or we go to the garden centre, McDonald’s or charity shops, anything he enjoys.”

Mr Goodall described Lewis, who is autistic, as “highly emotionally intelligent” so they have had to be mindful of what they say around him. He said: “We had to tread carefully about how we would approach the really horrible bits but he said himself he’s going to be with his two grandads.

“When the consultant in London told him ‘We’re running out of options here, there’s nothing more we can do’, annoyingly they told him without us there, which really didn’t go down very well. He cried for two hours.” He has received lots of visitors from friends, including those from his primary school who he hadn’t seen in more than 10 years.

Mr Goodall said: “Lewis was always the oldest and they all looked up to him. When they were here, he was like a different person, it was great to see — he was just like his old self, he hadn’t been like that for months.

“He just wants to talk to and see people. He hasn’t lost his personality; he still has the same character. His love for comedy has helped him through this like it has done the last four years.”

Indeed, in June, Lewis was able to see his favourite comedian, Fern Brady, at the HLTH is WLTH comedy gala at Henley Rugby Club and she signed a copy of her autobiography for him.

Mr Goodall said the last four years have changed him but the support from his wife Jo and wider members of the family has allowed him to stay strong.

“I look at things a lot differently now”, he said. “I’m a lot more emotional than I used to be. I can see someone on the telly talking about a father and son and I’ll think of my dad and him. Before my dad died, I hadn’t cried in years, like most men, but you can get carried away in your thoughts. My wife has been absolutely amazing. We have a cry together sometimes.”

The family is now fundraising for £6,000 to support Mr Goodall for loss of earnings while he has been caring for his son. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/lewis-goodall-loosing-his-battle-with-cancer/donations