A benefit golf tournament for Dustin Nevells, an Orono High School graduate recovering from brain surgery, is being set up for  Sept. 26.

In the winter of 2014, Dustin noticed a blind spot developing in his left eye. He thought nothing of it because he was still able to drive and work. About three-months later, however, he noticed that he was having chronic migraines happening once or twice a day. Despite the crippling pain, Dustin was still able to work and live a normal life. It wasn’t until mid-November that his wife got him to see his optometrist.

During the examination, the doctor preformed a “Field of Vision Test” to check range of Dustin’s vision. The results, however, were not promising; they showed that both of Dustin’s eyes did not work, properly and that there was something seriously wrong. The doctor ordered an emergency MRI to be performed on Dustin’s head. After a few days, the doctor called to give the results – a brain tumor just bigger than a golf ball.

“You would not expect to hear from your eye doctor that you have a tumor that is affecting your vision.” said Dustin.

Dustin had the tumor removed successfully from his brain on December 16, 2014 at Mass General in Boston. Dr. William Curry was the surgeon who performed the tumor removal procedure.

The last year has been a very trying and challenging time for Dustin and his family.

“I have good days and bad days. Some days I feel like going into town and other days I feel like curling up into a ball and staying home.” said Nevells who still struggles some days functioning and getting back to his everyday routine.  but he has had tremendous support from family and friends from the very beginning of his diagnosisl he said he has the greatest family and friends anyone could ever asked for and is looking forward to feeling normal again and moving on with his life.

Dustin graduated from Orono High School in 2007, where he was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Red Riots. His strong play on the field earned him a spot on the East Shrine Lobster Bowl team in July of 2007. Dustin’s athletic ability did not stop on the football field, as he was also a member of the Indoor and outdoor track teams. After high school he went onto receive an associates degree in Criminal Justice from Husson University in May of 2009. He also had a strong passion for cooking and earned a second associates degree, this time from Eastern Maine Community College in Culinary Arts in May of 2011. He used that Culinary Arts degree and started working at Dysarts Restaurant in Hermon as a baker in October of 2012.

In the months following surgery, Dustin’s recovery was going slower than expected. He was feeling run down, had no energy to do the simplest daily tasks, and at some moments depression set in. Despite those problems, after a few months of recovery he went back to work at Dysarts for a few hours each day. Due to the medication he is on for the recovery process from surgery, however Dustin had to make a very hard decision and give up his job. His last day of employment was on May 20, 2015. Since then he has not been working making the road to recovery more difficult.

To help Dustin through this difficult time, the Nevells family is setting up the benefit golf tournament for him on the 26th at Hidden Meadows golf course in Old Town (rain date is Sunday September 27). This is a four-person scramble format golf tournament. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.,with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The cost is $200 per team or $50. per person. Hole sponsorship is $50 per hole and donations are welcome! The tournament will also offer a 50/50 raffle, putting contest, chipping contest, accuracy drive, closest to the pin, mulligans, great food, and many prizes.

Teams are filling up quick, so reserve your spot today. If you would like more information about this great benefit golf tournament for Dustin Nevells please contact Mark Nevells at 207-949-3773 or Barbara Nevells at 207-570-3355, or email markbarbara62@gmail.com. checks for the event should be made payable to Mark Nevells, 124 Cook Road Carmel, Me 04419.