Comedian and actor Johny Lever, known for decades of making audiences laugh, recently opened up about one of the darkest chapters in his life. In a heartfelt conversation, he shared the emotional story of his son Jesse’s battle with a tumour at a young age. Despite Johny’s fame and success, he faced fear and helplessness as a father when doctors warned him that surgery could leave Jesse blind or paralysed. What followed was a journey filled with despair, prayer, and a moment of unexpected faith that gave his son a second chance.
Johny shared how doctors warned of paralysis or vision loss
Speaking to former actor Kunickaa Sadanand on her podcast, Johny recalled how it all started when Jesse was just ten years old. A small lump appeared on his neck, and the family tried different treatments, including surgery. But nothing worked, and things took a terrifying turn.
He said, “My son developed a knot on his neck, and he went through several types of treatment, including an operation, but they couldn’t remove the tumour because it was intertwined with nerves. They warned me that they cannot operate, as my son risks losing his eyesight or getting paralysed. I saw my son lying on the hospital bed, with the cut still open. They gave us medication to melt the tumour, and my son used to take 40-50 pills each day, but it didn’t work, and the tumour just kept growing.”
Poll
Should celebrities share personal health stories to raise awareness?
He recalled feeling helpless as a father during that time
As Jesse’s condition worsened, Johny found himself feeling helpless. The tumour kept growing, and Jesse began facing bullying from classmates. “He was barely 12 years old, and kids in his school used to make fun of him. I did everything for him during that time, bought him whatever he wanted, and took him wherever he wanted to go.”Trying to make Jesse happy, the family went on a trip to the US. It was during this trip that something unexpected happened—a moment that would change their lives forever.
A priest’s words brought new hope
Johny shared that during a trip to the US, the family visited a church in Jersey, where a priest walking back from the altar noticed Jesse and asked about his condition. After Johny explained the situation, the priest advised him to take Jesse to a famous hospital in the US, the same one in New York City where Nargis Dutt had received cancer treatment. The priest assured him with confidence that God would heal his son.
The moment the tumour was removed successfully
Although doctors in India had advised against surgery, Johny decided to follow the priest’s suggestion. His wife was hesitant, but he managed to convince her. With the help of friends in Jersey, they found a doctor, “Even though I was not a very pious person, during that time I prayed a lot. The operation took place, and I was so engrossed in prayer that I felt as if I was in the operation theatre, and my wife thought I had gone mad. Shortly after they brought him out, he raised his left hand up and signalled to me that he was okay. They had taken the whole tumour out, and all that was left was a tiny bandage on his neck.”
A second chance, and a changed life
The operation was a success. Jesse came out of it completely cancer-free. The relief and gratitude changed Johny’s life forever. Johny admitted, “I left whatever bad habits I had,” and thanked God for this second chance. Jesse, now completely recovered, is active on social media where he shares videos of himself singing and playing instruments like the drums.Meanwhile, Johny’s daughter Jamie has followed in his footsteps and is touring around the world doing stand-up comedy.
