I can’t close my eyes without ICE and I can’t speak properly due to facial paralysis

One man has told how he can’t close his eyes without ICE due to a rare facial paralysis – which the docs fear could be cancer.

Joe Beaver, 46, was taken to A&E when face froze and his eyes couldn’t close halfway through going to the movies with his wife on Gifts Day last year.

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Joe was “horrified” to be hospitalized for two weeks, with doctors initially believing he had Bell’s Palsy – a condition that causes temporary muscle weakness on one side of his face.

But documents now fear the detention officer in custody, who is from Glasgow but lives in London, has lymphoma in his central nervous system.

He still can’t close his eyes – and needs to bandage them to go to sleep.

The paralysis also made it difficult for his lips to move, which meant it was difficult for him to speak.

Joe told Daily record: “I was at the movie theater with my wife Rachelle on Gift Day when it felt like part of my face went completely numb.

“I realized I couldn’t close my eyes and it hurt a lot when the wind hit my eyeballs.

“It was horrible. The doctors thought I had Bell’s Palsy.”

“That day I ended up at A&E and didn’t leave for two weeks, I haven’t been able to close my eyes since without the tape.

“My life has completely changed, I have struggled to speak and it is very painful.”

Joe first suspects something is amiss when he falls asleep in the middle of his shift as a volunteer Santa for Christmas.

The symptoms progressed from there to balance problems, followed by shoulder pain, headaches, and facial numbness.

Joe was initially diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy but – when tests revealed he had an elevated white blood cell count, enlarged lymph nodes and an enlarged spleen – the documents became concerning.

He is currently waiting for test results to see if he has cancer.

Joe is unable to work while he awaits treatment and he hopes to be able to pay for a specialist surgery privately because the NHS won’t cover it.

Joe’s wife Rachelle has launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs.

To donate, click here.

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