He’s only 23 years old…and he has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - after surviving a heart transplant, two pulmonary fungal infections and a tornado.  Gary Burdick is my boy… and his journey is nothing short of miraculous.  

Here’s Gary’s story:

Gary Burdick, a resident of Lascassas, TN and Seymour, TN is a 23 year old who has faced death and survived - not once, not twice…. But FIVE times.

In July, 2019 - Gary was diagnosed with Restrictive Cardiomyopathy, where the only cure for this is a heart transplant.

On August 4, 2019 - just 8 days after being put on the organ wait list, Gary received a heart transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical in Nashville, TN, when he was 16 years old. Gary made a full recovery.

October, 2021 - Gary was diagnosed with histoplasmosis - a fungal infection which is life-threatening to transplant patients on immunosuppressants. He was hospitalized and given antifungal medications and was on prolonged antifungal meds at home for a year - Gary made a full recovery.

July, 2022 - Gary was diagnosed with invasive aspergillosis - a life threatening pulmonary fungal lung infection. He acquired this fungal infection while he was on the anti-fungal medications from the previous histoplasmosis, making this much more severe and harder to treat. The doctors told us that his “chances of survival were low.” Gary was hospitalized and after intensive medications and therapy - Gary made a full recovery.

April, 2023 - Gary was staying the night at his grandmother’s house when a massive tornado hit her home in Readyville, TN and specifically the bedroom Gary was sleeping in. After being awoken to “metal screeching” he had the foresight to run into the bathroom tub for safety. The windows and the roof were sucked out of the bedroom he was sleeping in - leaving glass, insulation and splintered boards on the broken bed where he was laying just minutes before. Gary’s Ford F-150 truck was destroyed - but Gary survived.

May, 2026 - Gary was diagnosed with Stage 4 Burkitt Lymphoma Cancer, as a result from the immunosuppressant medications he has to take for the heart transplant - so that his body doesn’t reject the heart. He is currently undergoing an intensive chemotherapy regimen at Vanderbilt. He has to be admitted to the hospital for five days in a row to receive a consistent I.V. drip of EPOCH chemo for 96 consistent hours. Then he goes home for 21 days and has to be re-admitted for another round of chemo for five days in a row. He has to do this a total of six times. So far Gary has responded well to the chemo - although the side effects of these poisonous drugs are harmful and uncomfortable, it is killing the cancer.

Gary has worked full time at Superior Traffic Control for the past three years. Gary has not been able to work during his treatments for this cancer, making him miss 6 months of work.

Although Gary is responding well to the chemotherapy, the day-to-day financial worries linger… and he will have a year of follow up doctor appointments to monitor both the potential “rejection” and the potential “infection”.

Gary is the guy who stops on the road to help anyone he sees that’s broke down or needs a tire changed. He makes an effort to give the homeless guys on the off-ramps food and bottled waters. He is a protector of everyone he loves and has such a compassionate and caring heart. This poor kid has done everything right… and followed all the rules and doesn’t complain. He just endures… and yet, every time he has pulled through.

People tell him he has a testimony to share with the world - and although he may not be sure what it is - he is aware that God has some sort of plan for him - to share his story about how he is a living, walking miracle - thanks to our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

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