He's affectionately called Big Lue but now that bigness is threatening 29-year-old Llewellyn Meighan's life. Tonight we'll introduce you to the morbidly obese man who needs $65,000 for gastric bypass surgery because he cannot lose the weight - leaving him with only thing left to lose - his life. Keith Swift visited Meighan at his home on Castle Street this afternoon.
Keith Swift Reporting,
29 year old Llewellyn Meighan is 6 feet 4 inches tall. His ideal weight is 225 pounds but his actual weight is more than triple that.
Keith Swift,
How much do you weigh right now?
Llewellyn Meighan, "600 plus."
But he wasn't always this big. He was a chubby child and that carried to his teen years but as an adult he fought a losing battle with obesity. And two years ago Big Lue's weight soared from 400 to 600. That's when he developed these huge and monstrous growths on his legs- they are called lymphodema.
Llewellyn Meighan,
"I have a growth growing on two of my legs known as a lymphodema growth. It is basically from fat, build up of fat and other substance."
Keith Swift,
Mr. Meighan people will say but why did you allow yourself to get this big? Why didn't you stop at 400 pounds or 500 pounds. Is it something you could have controlled?
Llewellyn Meighan,
"Keith I've tried myself and I wouldn't if I could have let myself get this way. These things that are on my legs – it is a growth and it is not something where you are gaining weight and you can control it- it is a growth and it is something whereby you are gaining weight and you can't control it."
For close to a year now – the 29-year-old former bus driver has been house ridden. He can't work, he can barely walk, and is most of the times confined to his room and on his bed.
Llewellyn Meighan,
"I can't walk far distances or stand too long because it is heavy and basically like I said it literally limits me to small walking distances and standing time and things like that. I use to be bus driver as one of my jobs and it affects me in such way that I had to quit from the time it started to go because of where it is located at the rear of my feet – it gives me trouble. I can't move my feet to operate the bus."
Keith Swift,
What is a day like for you?
Llewellyn Meighan,
"Well Keith it's basically a routine for me now. I have limitations. I get up in the morning do your little house chores and make sure it is clean and after that you do a little walking - a little half hour exercise and after that basically I have nothing much to do."
Keith Swift,
Are you able to just say go for a walk, go outside or go downtown if you want to, can you do that?
Llewellyn Meighan,
"No Keith I can't walk that far."
A grown man who can't walk far and can't work – and Big Lue says he has to depend on his family for everything.
Llewellyn Meighan,
"I am without a job and I depend on my family and friends to help me as a I go along and they have been doing that so far. I have an older brother a young sister. They are employed but the wages they make is barely enough to feed their own family so they only help with what they can as they go along. It is stressful. It's a real sad thing at times, especially being here. If you notice I got a little old radio jamming. Beside that basically I just have to take a walk out in the yard and my television is watching the people go by on the street."
Big Lue complains he had nowhere to turn because there aren't any facilities in Belize to treat obese patients. He did however turn to registered nutritionist and dietician Karen Rosito. That was three years ago – and today she says his condition is critical.
Karen Rosito, Dietician & Nutritionist
"I met Mr. Meighan about three years ago and since then he has gained considerable amount of weight. He is now about 700 pounds. The problem with him is that he needs to work to live and if he doesn't get this surgery at least the preliminary one to lose the water that has accumulated in his legs - unfortunately he will die, literally or he won't be able to work so he can live. So in order to help him, I am appealing to the general public to just give. He is a young guy to give generously if you can."
"I am really sorry for him in a way because I would be the first one to say he can exercise. Honestly he cannot exercise. He cannot even walk much less move around. His diet, even if I restrict him to 500 calorie a day, he won't lose the weight fast enough to save his life. So basically he needs both surgeries."
Keith Swift,
How serious is it?
Karen Rosito,
"Actually I am not a doctor but I will give my opinion, he will basically not live the next four months if he doesn't get this surgery."
But Big Lue wants to live but to stay alive he invited into his home and life to plea for help.
Llewellyn Meighan,
"If I don't get it, I won't be able to walk to work to do normal things. I will just be able to sit around and waste my life away. I am appealing for the public to help me financially so that I can get the resources I need to help me get my life together. I am young, I am a hard working man, and I wish to get help to get my life together and get a job and do normal stuff like people. Like what you said – take a walk downtown."
Keith Swift,
This, surgery can it be performed in Belize?
Llewellyn Meighan,
"No I have checked with several medical institutions outside of Belize and I have gotten estimates and so far the best one I got was from Guatemala and the estimate was $65,000 which includes two surgeries – a gastric bypass and the surgically to remove the growth from my legs. I need $65,000 for the surgery."
Keith Swift,
How much do you have?
Llewellyn Meighan,
"Well quite frankly I have zero."
He has zero dollars and everything to lose.
If you want to help Llewellyn Meighan you can contact him at his home at #18 Castle Street. You can also call him at 605-6615. Again, he needs 65 thousand dollars and monetary contributions can be deposited into account number 47675 at Holy Redeemer Credit Union. We should note that while Meighan needs surgery to remove the lymphodema - diet experts say he must lose at least one hundred pounds before a doctor would operate on him. We'll follow Big Lue's progress and keep you updated.
