by Samantha Wolfe
Everyone knows the famous line, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Lloyd Wescott is the living embodiment of that saying, having battled and beaten cancer not once but twice. His journey has brought him closer to God, his family, and the possibility of a long and happy life.
At thirty-three years old and in the best shape of his life, Lloyd seemed invincible. So, when he started experiencing lower back pain, he thought little of it, chalking it up to the effects of a tough deadlift session. When the pain persisted, he consulted a doctor and was prescribed medication. Despite this, the pain only worsened, forcing him to lie on the ground at work with his legs elevated in a desperate attempt to find relief. Concerned friends and colleagues urged him to seek a second opinion as the once vibrant Lloyd appeared a shadow of his former self.
On September 16, 2011, after several appointments and diagnostic scans, Lloyd received the devastating news that no one wants to hear: he had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in his spine, and the prognosis was grim. Treatment began almost immediately with having ports implanted in his head and chest. Since the cancer was on his lumbar vertebrae one through five, there was a significant risk of it spreading to his brain, demanding aggressive chemotherapy. He underwent weekly treatments followed by three weeks off to recover. This regimen involved draining spinal fluid from his head and replacing it with chemo chemicals. After eight months of grueling treatment, Lloyd was declared in remission, and the cancer was gone.
In the years that followed, Lloyd embraced life with renewed vigor. He began dating a wonderful woman named Jess, and together they deepened their faith. They became part of a mission group focused on community gardening and serving communities in need with fresh produce and foods. Jess became the founder of Planting to Feed, a non-profit organization that continues this invaluable work, leading Lloyd to meet Brian and Sarah Hunt. Together, Lloyd and Brian would become partners in fitness.
Lloyd and Jess were married on August 29, 2015, and enjoyed four wonderful years together. However, their joy was disrupted while Lloyd was traveling with Jess on a business trip in Berlin, Germany. While Jess was attending the conference events, Lloyd had been exploring the city on a motorized scooter; he’d noticed that his walking had been worsening steadily throughout the week. When they went to start their anniversary journey together on foot, Lloyd suddenly collapsed at a crosswalk as the light turned green. Jess managed to get him to safety, and they returned home two days later for medical confirmation. On September 16, 2019 – exactly eight years after his original diagnosis – Lloyd received the heart-wrenching news that his cancer had returned.
Lloyd’s journey in faith taught him that anything is possible if you believe it will happen. A few months before his new diagnosis, he had gifted his wife concert tickets to see her favorite artist. The diagnosis came just five days before the concert, and unfortunately, they would not be able to attend. Instead, Lloyd and Jess were able to donate the tickets to a woman that had tragically lost her husband to cancer.
Lloyd could not have navigated this journey without the support of his family and friends. As the owner of Lost Wonder Brewery, LLC, he received unwavering backing from his brewing team when he was diagnosed a second time. The brewery created orange “Hops for Hope” t-shirts and participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk. They formed the Wescott Warriors in his honor and raised the most money for the event. Lloyd had been receiving treatments for twelve days since returning from the trip, but he was not yet cleared to participate in the walk. However, the doctors agreed to release him for the day if his white blood cell count reached a reasonable level. Despite the odds, Lloyd was released at noon on the day of the event!
“Our friendship means as iron sharpens iron, so we sharpen each other.”
After three months of treatment, Lloyd was declared in remission again on December 23, 2019. To prevent future cancer, the doctors determined a bone marrow transplant was crucial.
Six matches were found worldwide, with the closest being a man about ten years younger. Lloyd’s surgery was scheduled for March 12, 2020. Before the procedure, he underwent another round of chemotherapy, which left him neutropenic and highly susceptible to infection; visitors had to wear masks, gloves, and gowns. The day after his surgery, COVID-19 was declared a national emergency, and the country shuttered. The hospital was on lockdown for twenty-six days with only phone contact allowed. Lloyd recovered well from the surgery but was very weak. Due to the pandemic, he had to stay home for one hundred days after being discharged. “Walking around your house in the same circles gets really boring,” he said, remembering the anticipation of getting out.
About a year after being allowed back into society, Lloyd and Brian decided to join the Hockessin Athletic Club and commit to daily workouts. “He’ll hold me accountable, in the gym and out, and he knows I’ll do the same” Brian said when asked what their friendship means to him. “Our friendship means as iron sharpens iron, so we sharpen each other.” They joined in June 2021 and have been part of the 5 a.m. workout crew, knocking on the lobby doors at open to get in every Monday through Friday for the past three years. HAC member Louis Saindon grew to be friends with Lloyd while waiting for the doors to open at 4:40am each day. They shared stories about their lives and their appreciation of life. “I think fitness for Lloyd is many things,” explains Louis. “Personal growth, accountability, mental health, strength, community, and a commitment to his wife and daughter.” For Lloyd, going to the gym has become “a hobby, a habit, and a place of friendship,” mentioned another friend Kehinde Uhmar.
Lloyd’s goal now is to be the best husband for Jess and father for his daughter, Sage. His path to fatherhood has been miraculous. Initially, he did not think it was possible to have children due to his illness. However, his wife Jess had a dream of walking out of the water holding a baby girl named Sage. “God wouldn’t give us a dream like that without it being possible,” Lloyd said. He had taken precautionary measures before starting chemotherapy in 2011, and together they embarked on their IVF journey. Despite the doctors’ doubts, Sage was born on July 20, 2023, and has transformed their lives for the better.
“After eight months of grueling treatment, Lloyd was declared in remission, and the cancer was gone.”
Everyone who knows Lloyd best says the same thing – every decision in his life is about his family. When asked what means the most to him in life, Kehinde stated, “Jess and Sage without question; that man lives for his wife and daughter. The unbridled joy and pride when he talks about them is unmatched!” As an older father, Lloyd strives to be in the best shape of his life so that he can be there 100% for his young daughter. Her early interest in watching basketball has pulled him back onto the court where you can find him on occasion after his workouts in the morning.
Lloyd is now a completely different man than before his diagnosis, and he is immensely grateful. Earlier this year, Lloyd had the opportunity to meet his bone marrow donor, Brian, and they participated in a 5k together. This past August, Lloyd was able to have the port removed from his head and did very well in recovery. He was eager to get back to the gym and was officially cleared to start lifting again in September! “He embodies perseverance,” Louis states. “Despite any difficulties and obstacles in life, Lloyd keeps moving forward towards his goals.” Lloyd Wescott has a world of support, a strong faith in God, a thriving business, and a bright future with his family. “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
