Gary’s Fight
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As most of you know, Gary was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in November 2021. In October 2021 Gary and his wife Donna were on vacation cruising to DR. Gary was not feeling well the entire trip and spent most of the time in the Ships medical center. Upon return, their daughter Rebecca, who is a nurse picked them up at the airport. Rebecca noticed her dads skin and eyes were yellow (jaundice) and he was incredibly weak which was not like him. She knew something was wrong and brought Gary to the emergency room immediately.
After a week long admission, his medical team discovered the cause. A tumor was growing on the head of his pancreas which was blocking the bile duct and caused his yellow skin and eyes. All the diagnostic testing concluded it is pancreatic cancer. During that admission Gary had a procedure called an ERCP to open the bile duct which relieved the jaundice. After the ERCP, he was admitted again with complications from pancreatitis. He was able to be home for Holidays thankfully. With visiting nursing/PT he was able to gain his strength back to tolerate surgery and to be able to walk his other daughter Olivia down the isle on her Wedding day 12/26/21.
Gary was scheduled to have a Whipple on 1/10/22. But unfortunately he tested + for Covid which delayed his Whipple surgery to Friday 2/4/22. Leading up to the surgery he was his normal self again, he loves to crack jokes and spend time with family. On the day of surgery everything went well and his family was able to visit him the next day. Over the next several days Gary’s conditions seemed to be heading in the right direction. On Tuesday 2/8 both his daughters visited and he was up talking and happy to see them.
Around 4:15am 2/9, Gary took a turn for the worst. His nurse called the family and notified them that Gary’s heart had stopped twice. With heroic efforts they were able to bring him back after nearly an hour. He has since been transferred to surgical ICU and having more tests to figure out what exactly happened. With this very unexpected turn, this page is to help Gary’s family with the climbing medical bills moving forward. Anything is greatly appreciated. Please keep the Richardson family in your thoughts and prayers.
After a week long admission, his medical team discovered the cause. A tumor was growing on the head of his pancreas which was blocking the bile duct and caused his yellow skin and eyes. All the diagnostic testing concluded it is pancreatic cancer. During that admission Gary had a procedure called an ERCP to open the bile duct which relieved the jaundice. After the ERCP, he was admitted again with complications from pancreatitis. He was able to be home for Holidays thankfully. With visiting nursing/PT he was able to gain his strength back to tolerate surgery and to be able to walk his other daughter Olivia down the isle on her Wedding day 12/26/21.
Gary was scheduled to have a Whipple on 1/10/22. But unfortunately he tested + for Covid which delayed his Whipple surgery to Friday 2/4/22. Leading up to the surgery he was his normal self again, he loves to crack jokes and spend time with family. On the day of surgery everything went well and his family was able to visit him the next day. Over the next several days Gary’s conditions seemed to be heading in the right direction. On Tuesday 2/8 both his daughters visited and he was up talking and happy to see them.
Around 4:15am 2/9, Gary took a turn for the worst. His nurse called the family and notified them that Gary’s heart had stopped twice. With heroic efforts they were able to bring him back after nearly an hour. He has since been transferred to surgical ICU and having more tests to figure out what exactly happened. With this very unexpected turn, this page is to help Gary’s family with the climbing medical bills moving forward. Anything is greatly appreciated. Please keep the Richardson family in your thoughts and prayers.
Organizer
Rebecca Driscoll
Organizer
Foxborough, MA