PLANES for BRAINS! Tom McLeod and Sally Lloyd

What would you be doing right before emergency brain surgery?

 

Probably not be making paper airplanes!

For Tom McLeod, pre-brain surgery was a time for joking and folding airplanes, commenting, "this will be the only paperwork we have to do! "

 

This is pure Tom McLeod, always finding the positive side to his situation, with his true "she'll be right" attitude towards life.

 

He took the reality of brain surgery in stride on February 4, 2022, when they discovered that he had a Colloid Cyst blocking the drainage of his brain fluid. As a result, he was rushed to Canberra Hospital for emergency brain surgery.

 

Tom survived the surgery, but there have been complications and possible damage that will require healing time and work to regain his brain.

 

This life-saving surgery is the tip of the iceberg for Tom, Sally (his wife) and their five young children.

 

Our names are Katie Ryan and Kate Patmore. We are fundraising for our dear friends, Tom McLeod and Sally Lloyd and their children Oscar, Archie, Lily, Alice and Ruby. We can make a difference in this family's life; here's their story.

 

Like many in The Bega Valley, Sally, Tom and their five young children are processing the ordeal of the 2019/2020 Summer bushfires, evacuated multiple times due to threats on their property. Then, amid the chaos of Australia's first year of COVID, doctors found what appeared to be a cancerous tumour on Sally's brain in September 2020. An incredibly stressful period of 6 months followed while Sally waited for the required brain surgery. This, while permanently homeschooling three kids (and of course caring for the younger two) and coming off the back of 2 years of post-natal depression.

 

 

 

Sally's brain surgery in March 2021 found a grade 2 cancerous astrocytoma tumour. While Sally's surgery was a success, there was no guarantee that all the cancerous cells had been removed. The risk of the tumour returning is highly probable even after successful brain surgery.

 

 

 

A slow recovery immediately after the surgery meant that Tom could not work for some months as he cared for Sally and their five young children. Much of this caring took place in Sydney to be close to the specialist medical team but a long way from home. Thankfully they had some savings and had to rely heavily on this to survive.

After returning home to the Bega Valley, Tom returned to work, and Sally was still recovering. The physical, emotional, and psychological burden of this recovery brought the family to decide that she could no longer homeschool the kids. But even after sending the bigger kids to school, continuing to care for the younger children and the morning chaos of getting the bigger kids out the door proved too exhausting. So, being a wonderfully supportive partner, Tom negotiated his employment contract down to part-time to take care of Sally and support his family. This temporary period of part-time work is due to come to its conclusion this month, where his contract will return to full time.

It has been a tough road for the entire family (which has, of course, has also included periods of lockdown). But, while life was not ideal, Sally, Tom and the kids were surviving.

That is until the end of January 2022, when Tom began having headaches that continued to get worse over two weeks. Due to Sally's recent stressful experience, she was concerned that these headaches were scarily familiar and insisted he gets an MRI. Tom's "she'll be right" attitude meant that he continued to live life fully despite the worsening headaches. The morning of the MRI found Tom body surfing with his youngest, a memory that Sally now treasures.

It was a shock to learn the MRI found a life-threatening colloidal cyst deep in Tom's brain. It prevented the movement and drainage of cerebrospinal fluids and could have been fatal if left untreated. Tom was immediately rushed to the 200kms to Canberra hospital for emergency brain surgery.

 

 

The removal of the cyst was a success, and Sally knew that Toms recovery period would be long and exhausting like her own. She wasn't, however, prepared for the additional complications that followed.

While the removal of the cyst was indeed successful, the surgery was so impactful on this brain that it has resulted in Tom experiencing acute organic psychosis. The psychosis has presented as persistent delusions, confusing and disturbed thoughts and extremely out of character. It has been traumatic for the entire family to see and hear Tom behaving entirely unrecognisable ways. They are fearful that he will never be the same person they knew.

Tom now remains in hospital while receiving the intensive mental health care he requires. The long-term prognosis for his mental health is currently unknown. However, doctors are indicating it could be a journey of years. There is also a genuine possibility that he may never fully recover. The stress that the family is experiencing due to the complications of psychosis feels particularly cruel and unfair on top of everything else they have been through over recent years.

Sally still requires support for her physical and mental health. In addition, she now finds herself looking at the mammoth task of being Tom's primary carer while also caring for their five young children.

The kids have been exceptional, coping with the many challenges and changes of the last few years. However, they have been traumatized by the compounding of events. They are desperate to feel that their family unit is safe and stable once more. Unfortunately, at this stage, no one can tell them when that day will come.

Sally and Tom are self-sufficient, community-minded and selfless and never ask for help. But we are asking for your help on their behalf because they desperately need us right now. While money is, of course, not the solution to all their struggles. Unfortunately, it is unknown when (or if) Tom will return to work.

We hope to raise enough funds to give Tom, Sally and the kids 1 years' salary. Your donation will help cover -

Let's come together and grant them this gift of financial support and time, showing them that they don't have to do this alone. Please dig deep and donate what you can.