A young dad and his family have had their world turned upside down after he woke up paralysed.
Life took a dramatic turn for Callum Percival, 25, almost three weeks ago when months of backache finally led to him being rushed to hospital when he couldn’t move his legs.
Scans revealed the father-of-one from Bagillt, Flintshire had a malignant tumour on his spine, which had to be removed during emergency surgery at Walton Hospital.
He now faces a wait of six to 12 months to find out if he will ever walk again as he gets set to start gruelling cancer treatment.
His devastated fiancee Alys Williams has been at his bedside ever since, with the couple’s relatives bringing their 11-month-old son Henri up every day to visit.
The family’s heartbreaking plight has spurred a massive fundraising drive, with more than £1,300 raised overnight to support them.
Speaking to the Daily Post from hospital, Alys said: “Around seven months ago, Callum fell down the stairs at home and has struggled with his back ever since.
“He has been backwards and forwards to the doctors and was told it was muscular and put on pain killers to manage it.
“But one Friday morning, he woke up numb with pins and needles in his legs.
“He went to work as normal that day, but when he came home, he complained that his legs felt heavy.
“It got worse over the weekend and, when it got to Sunday, he couldn’t walk at all. I had to help him out of bed.
“I called an ambulance and Callum was taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.”
Medics at the Bodelwyddan hospital carried out tests which revealed that Callum had a cancerous tumour on his spine.
He was rushed to Walton in an ambulance where he underwent an operation to remove it.
Alys added: “We’ve been told that Callum might not walk again and it could be six to 12 months before we know if he will get any feeling back.
“At the moment, they are keeping him comfortable while he recovers from the surgery, but then he will begin his cancer treatment after more tests.
“We still don’t know how advanced it is or if it has spread. We are just keeping positive.
“The hospital staff have been amazing. They have looked after us so well and, through a local charity, have been able to put me up in a flat nearby so I can be here every day.
“Our son Henri, who is thankfully a really good baby, is being looked after by relatives back home in North Wales and they are bringing him up to see us every day.
“His little world has been turned upside down.
“We are so lucky to have such a great support network and we’ve been overwhelmed by all the fundraising and the fact that so many people are rallying around to help.”
Alys said that, with Callum currently unable to carry on work at a fencing company in Mold, she has had to turn down a job offer herself to care for him.
The 24-year-old qualified nursery nurse said: “At the moment, we don’t know what the future holds, but we do know this is going to be a long haul.
“We are hoping that soon Callum will be able to be transferred closer to home and, once he’s recovered from surgery, he will start physiotherapy and then radiotherapy.
“It’s always been me and Callum against the world but to feel the love from our families and the wider community during this uncertain time is lovely.”
To make a donation to the Go Fund Me page, visit here
