Sharing is Caring
I just emailed the bio and picture for Gary’s Honored Hero bio for this year’s Light the Night walk. I fully expect that the lengthy bio will be severely edited to make it shorter, but no biggie. I’d rather give them more info than not enough. I’d like to share what I wrote, along with one of the pictures that I submitted of my wonderful husband, I think he would have been proud of this:
In 2007, Gary and his wife were excited and happier than ever as they were expecting their first child. Unfortunately, his world, their world, would soon change during a routine physical when his primary doctor discovered that his platelets were very low. He was then referred to a hematologist/oncologist. The first doctor Gary had gone to mentioned leukemia and lymphoma as a possibility. But this doctor was just not as aggressive in getting to a diagnosis as Gary would like. So, he searched for another opinion.
Gary started seeing a new doctor at Mt. Sinai who immediately ran a number of tests looking for answers. This doctor’s more proactive approach was just what Gary had been searching for. Two days before Gary’s son, Michael, was born, this new doctor came back with a diagnosis of T-Cell Large Granular Lymphocytes Leukemia (T-Cell LGL). This diagnosis was a wait-and-watch situation and would require routine visits every 3 months only to find out that nothing has really changed.
In January 2009, his oncologist still wasn’t 100% convinced it was leukemia. A few weeks later, his wife, Samantha, came across an article on CNN’s website regarding a doctor up at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studying rare diseases. She sent the article immediately to Gary and he said “Make it happen” so she did. He traveled up to the NIH for tests at the end of April. On May 5th, he got a call with the results, that six of the nation’s top pathologists all agreed that he had Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL). The PTCL was in his bone marrow, blood, and even in his spinal fluid. The doctors urged that he start receiving chemotherapy immediately.
During the summer of 2009, Gary along with his wife by his side every step of the way traveled up to the NIH every 3 weeks. The treatment at NIH was the best possible chance for Gary’s extremely rare case of PTCL. As a life-long math and science enthusiast, Gary decided to participate in a clinical trial. He knew that even if the treatment didn’t help him, it could possibly help someone else with this rare condition. This very intensive chemo regimen left Gary very weak, but his determination to continue fighting remained stronger than ever.
In his determination to continue living a “normal” life, Gary returned to work only a month after his last treatment. Though he was only able to work half days, he enjoyed every minute of it because it kept him in his comfort zone. After several months of trying to regain his strength, Gary suddenly came down with a case of pneumonia on Christmas Day. This was not the gift he and his family had been hoping for. After an extremely intense and emotional week in the hospital, Gary passed away on New Year’s Day.
Gary always found a way to make people around him smile, even when he was feeling his worst. He was a very talented man who played the trumpet for the Marching Chiefs at FSU, guitar and even the piano. He’d never miss a chance to play football or basketball with friends. Gary was very determined and nothing ever stood in his way, not even his lymphoma! Even though he was only 33 years old when he passed, he was definitely the greatest husband, father, and son anyone could ask for. He is dearly missed.
His fight against lymphoma lives on in those that he left behind. Through them, we will continue to fight for a cure, because that’s what Gary would have wanted.
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A recent widow and single mom doing my best to survive on my own.
Last year I told Gary that I'd raise $1k at the 2010 walk, please help me reach my goal. This year Gary is one of the Honored Heroes for the walk so its even extra special to me. :) Just click on the Sponsor Me image to be taken to my fundraising page. Thank you!!!
Help me get to my 1st Half Marathon in Walt Disney World where I will run in memory of Gary :)
Very well written Samantha.
Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute with all your readers.
Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing…
I think it came out perfect! It’s beautiful and he would love it! especially the FSU part