Feeling under the weather can change a person’s mood instantly, but for former LSU hurdler Morgan Wells, even a surgical procedure on his skull couldn’t kill his spirits.
Wells, a 2016 graduate, said he went to the hospital for what he thought was a stomach virus. He was having migraines and was vomiting.
But little did he know, he’d find “one more hurdle to clear.”
Wells was diagnosed June 9 with a rare brain tumor called meningioma and underwent surgery Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.
“It came out of nowhere, so it took me a lot by surprise,” Wells said. “[There was] initial shock, then acceptance, and then finding out the next step was the main thing.”
According to the American Brain Tumor Association’s website, meningioma tumors are benign and are about a third of all primary tumors.
Wells said he started his first procedure Tuesday, called embolization, which was a procedure that disconnected nerves, arteries and blood flow to the tumor temporarily to allow doctors to have a smooth surgery and no blood loss. The final procedure to remove the tumor was Wednesday.
“I’ll have a metal plate, a nice size scar and a great story to tell about it all,” he said Monday.
Wells said he shouldn’t lose any motor skills in the process and will be on medication for about six months after the procedure.
Wells accomplished much as an LSU student athlete . He was a part of the LSU men’s track and field team where he ran personal-bests. Wells placed third in the 400-meter hurdle event with a time of 54.97 seconds at the Louisiana Classics meet on March 20, 2015.
LSU junior sprinter Tremayne Acy was Wells’ teammate and roommate and remains his best friend.
The two met in 2014 when they both joined LSU’s men’s track and field team.
“He’s like a brother to me,” Acy said. “He’s just really a perceptive person and a hard worker. I don’t know where he gets it from. He was just born like that.”
The Louisiana native is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was recently acknowledged as a part of the 2016 SEC’s Community Service Team for completing a total of 81.5 hours of community service in the Baton Rouge area.
LSU graduate Seanil Reed, a member of the same fraternity, said the news was difficult to swallow because the two had hung out a week before the diagnosis.
“Mo is a fun person, but is always willing to help friends out,” Reed said. “There have been plenty of times that he has offered me rides and also helped the Nu Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha coordinate chapter events.”
Wells graduated May 13 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies and is currently interning with Strength and Conditioning at LSU while he awaits acceptance into graduate school at either Texas Southern University or LSU.
Wells said there are four things that keep him focused on staying positive and busy – having faith in God, the staff at Our Lady of the Lake, support and On Demand movies.
He said it has been so overwhelming to be reached out by so many people, both known and unknown. He was very thankful for the support.
“It’s been overwhelming,” Wells said. “Words can’t explain enough how appreciative I am. I just really want to reiterate that message to everyone because I haven’t been able to respond to everybody … It really helps me get through the entire process, too, to have that type of support from everybody.”
Wells said the best outcome of it all will be that he’d have a story to tell.
“I think the best thing for me to be a help to other people,” he said. “[Helping others] pay attention to their health issues, speaking to other people, making sure they keep up with what they have going on, not to take anything for granted. That’ll be the biggest thing for me – having a message to relay on top of everything I’ve already done.”
