'My wife thought I was mad': Comedian Johnny Lever reveals what he did to cope with son's cancer

Comedian and veteran actor Johnny Lever, known for decades of making audiences laugh, recently opened up about one of the darkest chapters in his life—when his 10-year-old son, Jesse, was diagnosed with a severe tumour. The diagnosis came with a heavy burden: doctors in India considered the case too complicated to treat through surgery.

The tumour was dangerously close to Jesse’s nerves, which meant any medical intervention could lead to blindness or even paralysis. Despite rounds of treatment and a heavy dosage of up to 50 pills daily, the tumour showed no signs of reduction. Each day, Johnny and his wife watched their son lie helplessly in a hospital bed as their faith in medicine slowly eroded.

A Ray of Light in the Darkest Hour

In the midst of this despair, the family travelled to the United States, where fate seemed to intervene. During their time there, they met a priest who urged them to visit Sloan Kettering Hospital, a prominent cancer care center. Although Jesse’s mother was filled with anxiety and hesitation—especially given what the Indian doctors had advised—Johnny decided to move forward with a consultation in the US.

What followed was a bold decision to proceed with surgery on foreign soil. Johnny, who had never been particularly religious before this moment, found himself turning to divine faith for strength. He became so deeply engrossed in prayer that his wife thought he had lost touch with reality.

"The operation took place, and I was so engrossed in prayer that I felt as if I was in the operating theater, and my wife thought I had gone mad. Shortly after they brought him out, he raised his left hand up and signalled to me that he was okay..." he said.

A Life Transformed by Gratitude

Grateful beyond measure, Johnny made a conscious decision to give up all his bad habits. He credited the divine for saving his son and dedicated himself to a life of gratitude. Jesse has since fully recovered and embraced a new identity as a performer. He is now a cancer survivor, musician, and social media content creator, often sharing videos of himself singing and playing drums.

A Family That Performs Together

While Jesse explores music and digital media, his sister Jamie Lever is carrying forward their father’s comic legacy, performing stand-up comedy across the globe. Meanwhile, Johnny Lever continues his journey in cinema, recently appearing in Housefull 5 and preparing for his role in the upcoming film Welcome To The Jungle.