Southsea dad-of-three with brain tumour has 18 months to live but he is determined to be positive

Computer programmer Jody Sexton and his wife Elle were left blindsided just less than two months ago after Jody was diagnosed with a brain tumour on New Year’s Eve.

The 43-year-old had been experiencing memory loss, body weakness and excruciating headaches and spent nine hours in A&E waiting to see a doctor on December 23, 2019.

Elle said: ‘The consultant thought it was just migraines and an old cycling injury but he had been leaving the front door open when going to work and I though this was more than just tired brain from our three-year-old son Indio.

‘They gave us a neurology appointment at the end of January but advised us to go to the opticians to see if it was any eye problems so we went to Specsavers in Commercial Road.

‘You could tell they could see something off and mentioned there was cranial pressure. They referred us to Queen Alexandra Hospital the next day.’

The couple, who spent seven years and two rounds of IVF to have Indio, went to Southampton General Hospital where they were told Jody had a Grade 4 glioblastoma.

He underwent brain surgery, where he was awake, and is due to start radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment in March.

Jody, who has two older children from his first marriage, said: ‘Life is what it is and if I dwelt on what is happening then I would be sitting on my bed and crying. But I have a wife and children who are going to be left behind and it is them I feel sorry for.

‘I think it is so important to look on the bright side of life and I am similar to my dad in that way. A positive mental attitude is so important in life and especially at times like these.’

The couple were left concerned over money worries as Jody has had to give up his job and Elle, who was a body piercer, gave up her job when she had Indio.

But the pair were left overwhelmed by the way family, friends and the Southsea community have come together to support them in their time of need.

Elle, 36, said: ‘As we only planned on one child after having IVF, we decided that I would spend as much time with Indio as I can before he goes to school but once this all started happening it was nerve-wracking to think what would happen.

‘We have always been private about money but I decided to set up a crowdfunding page and if people wanted to help out then they could and if not absolutely fine.’

The page has so far raised more than £13,000 and friends of the pair also organised a fundraising evening at Croxton’s in Southsea which made £5,756.

Friend and event organiser Paul Clilverd said: ‘Everyone knows Jody, he’s just an all-round rad dad, he would be the first person to support anyone else.

‘The idea was to celebrate with Jody after his operation but now it is more of a celebration for the man himself, he wouldn’t want people sat around moping.’

Jody added: ‘Knowing that there are so many people in the community that want to help us is really humbling and I feel very lucky in this unlucky situation.’

To donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jodysexton