A father fighting stage-three cancer has said he will not get to see his young daughter start primary school after being told he does not have long left to live.
Matthew Webley was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a rare condition causing hundreds or thousands of growths in the large bowel, which if left untreated "will almost certainly develop into cancer".
The 37-year-old moved from Pontypool to Devon five years ago with his partner Lisa and baby daughter Darcey, and has been left "bed bound" following numerous illnesses and infections.
22 operations and losing his brother
Matthew had a total of 22 operations, the first of which he had at the age of just 15. His small and large bowel has been removed, he developed thrombosis, and had a large tumour removed from his cheek.
Matthew lost his older brother last year to the same hereditary condition that caused his cancer and said in a GoFundMe set up to support his family: "I am currently fighting stage 3 terminal cancer. Sadly, I have been told that I do not have long left to live, and will not get to see my 17-month-old daughter start her primary school journey."
FAP is an inherited illness that's passed down from parents to children. Matthew explained his older daughter, aged 16, has been tested and does not carry FAP, but his baby girl must wait before being tested for the condition.
Constant pain and reliance on family
The cancer has left Matthew "in constant pain" and incapable of performing basic, everyday tasks independently, relying entirely on his partner Lisa for assistance, reports Devon Live.
He said he is heartbroken by the prospect of not watching his baby girl grow up. He said: "I'm not going to see [Darcey] reach two. I've deteriorated in the last 18-months and need help from my family with daily tasks because I'm a fall risk and don't have the strength. My situation is not positive at all. I try to be brave everyday, but it is so hard. It's not much of a life; my body cannot take much more. I just don't want to be in hospital again."
He said he "cries in pain every single day" and is unable to play with his baby daughter unless she is "cuddling up on the bed with me".
Declining chemotherapy and family support
"My heart breaks that I don't have a lot of time left to spend with my family - my body is giving up and getting weaker," he said.
Matthew told DevonLive that his family have been incredibly supportive, regularly visiting him as he is no longer able to leave his home. He was offered chemotherapy but declined, not wanting to go back into hospital.
Matthew said: "I feel sorry for the people who have to run around me everyday as I can't get out or do anything for myself. My dignity has gone and my partner has to wash me and shower me. I am constantly in pain, but I want to thank Lisa, my mum, dad, my brothers, auntie, and my daughter for being there."
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Matthew's family.
