Family's appeal for help with 'last chance life-changing surgery' for popular Sheffield singer

Meersbrook-born Vernon Lewis, 48, spent his life touring the world and singing on cruises, and even owned live music bar Sylvester’s in Sheffield city centre before a rare disease took its massive toll on his life.

While performing in Turkey in 2014, the father-of-three became sick with an illness that doctors struggled to diagnose.

“The illness has made him throw up many times a day ever since, and he’s been in an out of hospital,” Vernon’s ex-wife Rachel Grant said.

“It has been horrendous. He rapidly lost four stone when it started.

"He used to go on tour and play big venues around the world as well as cruises and holiday camps. But his illness meant he could not do that as much any more.

“He started doing theatre shows more locally as that meant less travel, but because he had to cancel shows when he was ill his career took a real hit.

“That in turn has meant his mental health has taken a nose dive, which has been hard for the kids as well.

“Vernon never complains. He keeps himself to himself and puts on a brave face.”

Eventually doctors diagnosed Vernon with Gastroparesis, a rare disease caused by damage to nerves in the stomach. This was brought on by Vernon’s diabetes.

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He was treated with botox injections to the stomach, as well as a variety of medications and a feeding tube, however none of these things have worked.

Now doctors have said that there is one option left, which is to have a pacemaker fitted to keep his digestive system moving, in the same way a pacemaker in a heart will keep it beating.

However, the surgery costs £18,000 and is not available on the NHS.

Vernon’s ex-wife Rachel Grant, who lives in Dinnington, set up a fundraiser to help pay for the surgery, and raised more than £4,000 in one day.

“The response we have had so far is amazing, but we still have a long way to go,” Rachel said.

“Vernon is a musician. That industry was the first thing to go during the pandemic. Future gigs he had booked at venues such as the O2 Arena, Cardiff's Millennium Centre, Glasgow's SEC and London's Apollo have all been cancelled.

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“He has had no income and no work since March, so there’s no way he can afford this surgery.

“What the doctors are doing for him at the moment with the feeding tube makes sure Vernon gets the nutrition he needs, but it is not a cure. It doesn’t stop him throwing up, and he can’t perform when he has a tube in.

“This really is the last chance for Vernon. The surgery will be life changing.”

You can donate to the fundraiser here.