‘None of us get out of life alive’: Father-of-three given just months to live after a shock brain cancer diagnosis reveals why he sees himself as ‘lucky’
- Doctors discovered a rare cancer in New Zealander Richard Mills’ brain in 2017
- He has undergone two brain surgeries and is now partially paralysed on his side
- Richard, 51, has been told he has just months to live but he has stayed optimistic
- The Wellington father said it struck him how ‘lucky’ he was compared to others
A DJ whose aggressive brain cancer means he has just months to live has revealed how he remains an optimist despite the disease leaving him partially paralysed.
Doctors found a rare form of cancer in the brain of much-loved Kiwi entertainer and marriage celebrant Richard Mills, 51, in October 2017.
The Wellington father-of-three now has restricted movement on his right side after undergoing two brain surgeries but said he chooses to see himself as ‘lucky’.
New Zealand DJ Richard Mills, whose aggressive brain cancer means he has just months to live, has revealed how he remains an optimist despite the disease leaving him partially paralysed
‘I was in hospital after one of my surgeries and the Christchurch shooting happened,’ he told FEMAIL.
‘I guarantee you not one of the people who died knew it would be their last, and it just struck me how lucky I am.’
‘I still have time and I’ll get better from my treatment before I die.’
In June, the passionate entertainer was told he had only two to six months to live but he said he still always looks on the bright side of life.
The DJ’s positive outlook is embodied by a phrase coined by a colleague – ‘Mills’d it’ – which refers to his knack of triumphing when the odds are stacked against him.
The slogan would be used when he struck gold – like always finding a parking spot right outside the shops – but now he faces odds of a very different nature.
His doctor wants to give him more chemotherapy but Richard, who has three sons aged 12, 16 and 18, is choosing to stay optimistic about his prospects.
He has had to sell his home to compensate for his lack of income during the past year-and-a-half, and a GoFundMe page has been set up by fellow entertainers to support his family.
Doctors found a rare form of cancer in the brain of the much-loved and marriage celebrant Richard Mills, 51, in October 2017
‘I was in hospital after one of my surgeries and the Christchurch shooting happened,’ he said. ‘I guarantee you not one of the people who died knew it would be their last, and it just struck me how lucky I am.’
‘I’m staggered at what my colleagues done for me – the fundraising is going to make such a difference to my wife and kids,’ he said.
The fundraiser set up on July 2 said the money raised would go towards helping Richard’s family – now he has had to start refusing bookings due to his illness.
‘Richard and (his wife) Tracey will be moving into a less costly next week and if we can help ease the financial burden of that, we want to help them ASAP,’ the fundraiser reads.
The Wellington father-of-three now has restricted movement on his right side after undergoing two brain surgeries but said he chooses to see himself as ‘lucky’
The DJ’s positive outlook is embodied by a phrase coined by a colleague – ‘Mills’d it’ – which refers to his knack of triumphing when the odds are stacked against him
In just under a month the campaign has raised $12,800 of its $20,000 goal.
His business friends have even put ‘Millsd’ it’ on a T-shirt to help raise funds for him and his wife during his treatment, as well as one of his other quips ‘don’t be a d**k’.
The latter phrase is inspired by his mantra in life to spin the positive out of every situation.
His doctor wants to give him more chemotherapy, but Richard is choosing to stay optimistic about his prospects (pictured during a brain scan)
‘We can make a change with every interaction we have in life – like if someone cuts you up in traffic and you let it go and say “that’s their journey” rather than getting into a road rage,’ he said.
Through a separate fundraiser among friends, Richard visited the US last month to tick off bucket list goals – visiting Chicago and taking in an amusement park in Tennessee.
‘Tomorrow isn’t promised,’ he said. ‘I have been given a wonderful chance to help people step out of their complacency and make the most of their life.’
Richard has had to sell his home to compensate for his lack of income during the past year-and-a-half, and a GoFundMe page has been set up by fellow entertainers to support his family