June 13th 2024.
Keeslee Lanfear may seem confident and carefree now, but it's hard to believe that he was once plagued with worries about revealing his true self. Despite being a popular content creator, with thousands of followers eagerly watching his videos about living on his own, skincare routines, and travels, Keeslee was struggling with something much bigger - his sexuality. Growing up in a small community in the Forest of Dean, he often felt like an outsider and was bullied for being gay even before he had fully come to terms with it himself.
In an interview with The Agency, Keeslee opened up about the challenges he faced growing up. He shared that the boys in his community were not very kind to him, and on one occasion, a classmate even sent a cruel message wishing for him to get AIDS and die. It was a difficult time, and Keeslee found it easier to talk about his battle with cancer than to reveal his sexuality to anyone. He knew that he would receive love and support for his illness, but he feared judgment and rejection for being gay.
In 2022, Keeslee was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma and was admitted to a hospital in Cardiff, Wales, where he was given a bed on a ward for young people run by Teenage Cancer Trust. Despite being worried about how others would react to sharing a ward with him, Keeslee found a sense of freedom and acceptance in the hospital. He formed friendships with other patients and even had heartfelt conversations with the night shift nurses who shared similar experiences of coming out and being accepted.
Being surrounded by such a supportive community, Keeslee's confidence began to grow, and he no longer felt burdened by his day-to-day worries. He realized that having such a major challenge to focus on took him away from his anxieties and allowed him to live freely. During his time in the hospital, Keeslee also discovered a new sense of style after losing his hair due to chemotherapy. Instead of feeling self-conscious, he embraced his new look and even started wearing bandanas, which he had never worn before.
After successfully completing his treatment and going into remission, Keeslee embarked on a journey of self-discovery, traveling to different places and trying new things. He also came out to the people at his school, and to his surprise, he received a positive response, even from those who had previously bullied him. However, Keeslee's life took an unexpected turn when he started losing weight and experiencing back pain and itchy legs in 2022. After multiple visits to the doctor, he was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment at the young age of 21.
Despite the challenges he faced, Keeslee remained positive and grateful for the support he received from his family and the Teenage Cancer Trust. He even raised £15,000 to show his appreciation for the organization, which helped him through his battle with cancer. Now in remission, Keeslee continues to travel and share his journey on social media, inspiring others with his positivity and resilience. Though he still goes for regular check-ups at the hospital, he no longer looks like a cancer patient, and the nurses often struggle to recognize him. Even though it brings a mix of emotions, Keeslee sometimes feels nostalgic when he visits the hospital, as it reminds him of the love and acceptance he found there during a difficult time in his life.
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