Hello, my name is Vanessa and I'm a friend of Gary's, or Big G. I'm setting up the GoFundMe with his blessing as Gary had a health scare back on July 24th, 2025.

The days leading up to Big G going to the hospital, he was starting to find his new normal after having surgery on July 2nd. On Monday the 22nd, he expressed that he was having some pain up high on the left side. He was advised to go be seen, and chose the Big G way and didn't go. The pain increased over the next 36 hours. When he decided he had enough, he called his brother. When BG arrived, seeing Gary in an unstable state, he was then transported to Tacoma General by ambulance. They admitted him after finding a small opening at the top of his stomach which was causing the pain. During the night, his condition worsened. Around 5:30 am, he called and asked if I could come up as they were transferring him to ICU. He had become septic (the infection spread to the bloodstream).

When I arrived, BG was waiting to go in to see him. They had taken him to run some tests. When they allowed us in his room, Gary was not himself. He was slow to respond and was having trouble breathing. Within an hour, he was being taken to the OR. They placed a tracheotomy and a specialized internal wound vacuum called an endoluminal wound vacuum. Gary was under 100% sedation for 9 days. During that time, he had uncontrolled blood pressure, different vent setting changes to regulate his breathing, and even coded.

Day 10-15 was a lot of resting and visits from loved ones and close friends. The silence of Gary's voice was felt, but his strength to fight was loud. On Day 16, he was back in surgery having everything changed out with the hopes of it not having to be replaced. The tiny hole that started it all was showing signs of closing. Gary having a trach and being vent-dependent for so long, it was a daily battle to regulate his breathing on his own. On Day 20, his right arm started to have pain in it, as it is the arm with his PICC line. It was now swelling up. An ultrasound was done and a blood clot was found.

Day 21-36 went so fast as Gary gained his strength and was able to talk. Right away, he said, "I WANT TO GO HOME." Laying down so long weakened his legs, but that didn't stop him. He got to stand for the first time in over a month, demanded daily to sit in a chair, and he was now only using the ventilator at night. He was doing so well he was transferred on August 30th to Kindred Hospital in Seattle. There, they removed the trach and had one PT workout. Let's just say being that far from his support circle was taking a toll on his recovery. He was transferred again to Alaska Gardens in Tacoma on September 4th, started physical therapy daily with a walker, and was finally released home on September 18th.

We are all grateful that he is home, but his recovery is going to be ongoing and costly. Asking for funds to give him peace of mind as he continues to heal at home. A lot of people have reached out and asked what they can do to help during this time. Here is a way to help.