Loving Support for Gary White's Wife, Sara
Donation protected
Loving Support for Gary White’s Wife, Sara
On August 18, 2019, at 58 years young, my lifelong friend, Gary White passed away after a long battle with a lung disease.
In 2006, life was going along just as planned; Two working parents, living the dream of owning a business, and a home in a small Midwest community where they both grew up, with 2 children to raise, bills to pay, good health insurance and enough income to handle it all. Gary dreamed of one day owning The TENDERMAID, a small hamburger & malt shop in his hometown of Austin, Minnesota. In 1997, the opportunity presented itself and he and his wife, Sara became the new owners. Nine years later, in 2006 life came to a screeching halt. Gary was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease – Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, for which there is no cure. This is the same disease that sadly took his Mother 2 years earlier at 69 years old. Gary was forced to quit his job and was given a bleak prognosis…he was 45 years old. He was given 6 months – 1 year, but he refused to lose hope, he was determined to make the most of the situation. He was a fighter!
In 2009 Gary was given a second chance at life. He received a single lung transplant at the University of Minnesota. This gift was not without great additional sacrifice. It would mean a move to Minneapolis for 5 months during/post the transplant. Sara had a business to run in Austin, her own father was dying, Gary was fighting for his life an hour & a half away, and they now had a mortgage and rent to pay during those 5 months. It was very stressful! Odds of survival aren’t great with lung transplants; they usually give you 3 - 5 years, Gary made it 10 years with tons of complications. He was so grateful for this gift of extended life, and didn’t take one moment for granted! Life, though, after the transplant was very difficult.
Those 10 years were full of doctor’s appointments, and terrible side effects: IV’s, blood draws, oxygen masks, surgeries, needles, pills, vomiting, excruciating pain, breathing treatments, nutritional deficiencies & weight loss, isolation, distress, mobility issues/muscle weakness, cancers, torn rotator cuffs, partial intestinal removal, broken bones & lung rejection. They had health insurance, but it did not pay for everything required for Gary just to stay alive, including many expensive medications. All of their savings and retirement funds were used up paying for his vast medical care in attempting to keep him alive. Sara knew he needed to concentrate on getting stronger and healthy, so she didn’t burden him with the bills. Sara was Gary’s world and he never wanted her to struggle after his time with his family ended. Now, she is left to pick up the pieces and try and figure out how she will go forward without him.
Gary, or ‘Whitey’ as many knew him, was the consummate people person and a loyal friend to all. He was the guy everybody loved to be around. He was kind, caring, generous, loving, funny, witty, athletic, and always upbeat and positive to the very end. His wife Sara was truly the love of his life and she was a dedicated caregiver to him for 12 + years, while managing everything, so Gary could concentrate on his health. Their two children were also strong supporters & caregivers for their Dad. He fought the good fight like nobody I’ve ever known. Never GIVE UP, was his motto! He was one tough cookie! I’ve known Gary since he was 3 years old and he was just a FABULOUS, fun guy who certainly didn’t deserve this journey to his demise. He left behind, 2 children, a daughter-in-law, 3 grandchildren, his beloved wife Sara along with 2 siblings, their spouses and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and a plethora of great friends.
Sara has a difficult road ahead after this devastating loss, but the outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming and a great comfort to her and their family. It’s not in Sara’s character to ask for help, so I am doing it for her. My goal is to help ease some of her stress from the tremendous financial burden they endured during Gary’s extensive medical care the past 12 years. The White’s have always been such selfless, giving people to not only friends and family, but generous donors throughout the Austin community as well. Gary LOVED Austin, and his faith & family more than anything in life. Now it’s our turn to give back to his family and show just how much he meant to all of us. It DOES take a village at times like this! Gary, you may be gone, but your infectious, positive spirit will be with all of us forever!
All proceeds will go to his wife Sara White. Thank you, in advance for your kindness & generosity!!
On August 18, 2019, at 58 years young, my lifelong friend, Gary White passed away after a long battle with a lung disease.
In 2006, life was going along just as planned; Two working parents, living the dream of owning a business, and a home in a small Midwest community where they both grew up, with 2 children to raise, bills to pay, good health insurance and enough income to handle it all. Gary dreamed of one day owning The TENDERMAID, a small hamburger & malt shop in his hometown of Austin, Minnesota. In 1997, the opportunity presented itself and he and his wife, Sara became the new owners. Nine years later, in 2006 life came to a screeching halt. Gary was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease – Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, for which there is no cure. This is the same disease that sadly took his Mother 2 years earlier at 69 years old. Gary was forced to quit his job and was given a bleak prognosis…he was 45 years old. He was given 6 months – 1 year, but he refused to lose hope, he was determined to make the most of the situation. He was a fighter!
In 2009 Gary was given a second chance at life. He received a single lung transplant at the University of Minnesota. This gift was not without great additional sacrifice. It would mean a move to Minneapolis for 5 months during/post the transplant. Sara had a business to run in Austin, her own father was dying, Gary was fighting for his life an hour & a half away, and they now had a mortgage and rent to pay during those 5 months. It was very stressful! Odds of survival aren’t great with lung transplants; they usually give you 3 - 5 years, Gary made it 10 years with tons of complications. He was so grateful for this gift of extended life, and didn’t take one moment for granted! Life, though, after the transplant was very difficult.
Those 10 years were full of doctor’s appointments, and terrible side effects: IV’s, blood draws, oxygen masks, surgeries, needles, pills, vomiting, excruciating pain, breathing treatments, nutritional deficiencies & weight loss, isolation, distress, mobility issues/muscle weakness, cancers, torn rotator cuffs, partial intestinal removal, broken bones & lung rejection. They had health insurance, but it did not pay for everything required for Gary just to stay alive, including many expensive medications. All of their savings and retirement funds were used up paying for his vast medical care in attempting to keep him alive. Sara knew he needed to concentrate on getting stronger and healthy, so she didn’t burden him with the bills. Sara was Gary’s world and he never wanted her to struggle after his time with his family ended. Now, she is left to pick up the pieces and try and figure out how she will go forward without him.
Gary, or ‘Whitey’ as many knew him, was the consummate people person and a loyal friend to all. He was the guy everybody loved to be around. He was kind, caring, generous, loving, funny, witty, athletic, and always upbeat and positive to the very end. His wife Sara was truly the love of his life and she was a dedicated caregiver to him for 12 + years, while managing everything, so Gary could concentrate on his health. Their two children were also strong supporters & caregivers for their Dad. He fought the good fight like nobody I’ve ever known. Never GIVE UP, was his motto! He was one tough cookie! I’ve known Gary since he was 3 years old and he was just a FABULOUS, fun guy who certainly didn’t deserve this journey to his demise. He left behind, 2 children, a daughter-in-law, 3 grandchildren, his beloved wife Sara along with 2 siblings, their spouses and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and a plethora of great friends.
Sara has a difficult road ahead after this devastating loss, but the outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming and a great comfort to her and their family. It’s not in Sara’s character to ask for help, so I am doing it for her. My goal is to help ease some of her stress from the tremendous financial burden they endured during Gary’s extensive medical care the past 12 years. The White’s have always been such selfless, giving people to not only friends and family, but generous donors throughout the Austin community as well. Gary LOVED Austin, and his faith & family more than anything in life. Now it’s our turn to give back to his family and show just how much he meant to all of us. It DOES take a village at times like this! Gary, you may be gone, but your infectious, positive spirit will be with all of us forever!
All proceeds will go to his wife Sara White. Thank you, in advance for your kindness & generosity!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Kim Fossey Cerchiai
Organizer
Cave Creek, AZ
Sara White
Beneficiary