PASSIONATE about his work, Leon Lord, a photojournalist, enjoys travelling with his camera, capturing moments that tell meaningful stories.
Each click of his lens captures memorable sporting moments, and from politics to laughter and everyday scenes, connecting people in Fiji and beyond.
But beneath this joyful pursuit, a silent threat looms: “diabetes,” which claims around 6.7 million lives each year.
The father of six had no idea that soon, he would face his own battle with this chronic disease, challenging him to confront the reality of health while still trying to freeze those precious moments he loves.
“At the beginning of this year, I was on a photo shoot and started feeling unwell. I thought to myself, “Maybe I’m just tired,” but there was something more going on,” Lord said while sharing his story during VegFest Fiji 2025 programme, in collaboration with the Alliance Française de Suva and the Fiji Medical Association.
“During the shoot, I felt exhausted, especially around lunchtime. I jumped down to take a break and thought maybe I didn’t have enough sugar in my system. I decided to grab a Coke to get some energy back.
“My wife was there with me, and I remember her noticing that I wasn’t acting like myself.”
The following day, his left foot began to swell. He visited a doctor, who examined his leg. At first, he didn’t think it was serious, but the pain started to increase.
After a series of tests, he learned that doctors were concerned about his condition, and he received a stark message that he would need to have his leg amputated above the knee.
He said: “I felt crushed; my job revolves around photography, and losing my leg would mean losing my livelihood.
“We sought a second opinion, but the next doctor informed us that my toe was black and needed to be amputated as well. He couldn’t save it.’’
Desperate to find a way to save his limb, he and his wife visited another specialist. That doctor confirmed that the situation was critical and that his foot needed to be amputated below the knee.
“While it would mean losing my foot, he assured us that I would walk again through rehabilitation,’’ he said.
“This was all happening in a matter of days, and I found myself having to make tough decisions.’’
A lens of hope
Lord said he sat down with his wife, and they discussed what this meant for their family. He thought about his children and how they would cope with the changes ahead.
“It was an overwhelming realisation, but I knew I had to be strong for them.”
“My wife told me not to cry because she said great speakers don’t show emotion. But I’m a father, and when I see my children, I can’t help but feel emotional,’’ Lord said.
“Initially, my mindset was one of despair. I felt lost and overwhelmed by everything that was happening. Just the day before, I learned that my insurance wouldn’t cover my surgery. It all felt like too much, and I was grappling with my health crisis.
“I had never experienced pain like this before, and I’ve been trough a lot in my life. But this pain was unbearable.
“On the day before my scheduled surgery at CWM Hospital, Dr Hawea came to see me. He was honest; he told me he wasn’t giving me false hope but wanted to assess my situation. He examined my leg.’’
Hawea could feel the blood flow and said he could save Lord, but the cameraman would lose two toes.
“At that moment, I felt desperate, but I recognised it as an opportunity. I was mentally prepared to give up, to throw everything away. Yet, his words gave me a glimmer of hope,” he said.
Lord had surgery to have his toes removed. The process was tough; he felt lost and was bedridden for three months, staring at the walls.
“Every time my media friends visited, I shared my story. As someone always out in the field telling stories, I felt like I was living a nightmare, struggling to understand diabetes’s impact on my life,’’ he said.
“I had little knowledge about the disease and how dangerous it could be.”
Lord credits medical advice and personal discipline for reversing some diabetes effects despite severe initial damage.
He emphasises that individuals must prioritise nutrition and lifestyle despite economic and cultural challenges, and that this requires personal responsibility, while also recognising the difficulty of change without community or institutional support.