Auditioning for The Voice Australia is a nerve-racking experience for most contestants, but Sean Millis had to deal not only with nerves, but the fact that his lung fuction was significantly impaired.
“I’m not sure what my numbers are right now, but at my audition, my nurses checked and said I had only 67 percent functionality then,” the 22-year-old tells TV WEEK.
Sean has Hunter syndrome, a rare genetic disorder in which the body doesn’t properly digest certain sugar molecules. It affects many aspects of his health, including his lung capacity, joints and hearing.
Sean is close to the medical staff who help him each week.
(Image: Instagram)Every week, he has to have nine hours of infusions to stay well, but with the help of the nurses at the clinic, the tiring visit becomes “less draining”.
“I have to go once a week for the rest of my life,” Sean says. “It’s a long day, and that’s why I’m so close with the nurses.”
“I just wanted to make them and my family proud through this experience.”
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(Image: Supplied)And if it wasn’t for his mother Nicole’s perseverance when he was a boy, the young man might not be here today.
“Mum had to lobby the government to get funding for my life-saving treatment,” the former choir and drama school captain from Melbourne explains.
“Then when I was seven, I started infusions. I had to have a lot of surgeries as a kid.”
Despite his medical challenges on The Voice, Sean has a positive and inspiring attitude when it comes to his story, which he shares on TikTok with his almost 400,000 followers.
“So many families with the same disease, from all over the world, have reached out to me with similar stories,” he says. “It’s been really moving.”
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Sean’s parents Nicole and David and sisters Claire (above left) and Amy are thrilled with his success.
(Image: Supplied)The singer has some exciting ventures ahead, including being set to appear in a Hollywood blockbuster film next year.
“I can’t reveal too much, but my friends and family are so happy to see me doing what I love,” he says.
“They know it’s hard having to go to hospital all the time, but now these opportunities have started happening, they’re very proud.”
Watch The Voice on Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm and Sunday 7pm on Channel Seven.
