Why he is fighting cancer, right here at home.
Richard Gardner’s roots run deep in Tallahassee. From husband and father to mentor and entrepreneur, his love for life is evident through everything he does. And through each of these hats he wears, there is certainly laughter shared with everyone he touches.
In 2010, Richard embarked on a new philanthropic journey by joining the Animal Therapy team at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), with his Boykin Spaniel sidekick, Bogey. Today, these two have made over 1,000 visits, and are often referred to as local celebrities on the TMH campus. From forming lifelong friendships with patients to walking the halls with Bogey with her stethoscope in mouth, their impact is immeasurable on patients and colleagues.
Last year, Richard entered into a new journey at TMH. Struggling to keep weight on, he visited his primary care physician this January for preliminary testing. He found himself going through standard testing of CT scans, ultrasounds and biopsy’s, after beating cancer 26 years ago he was used to it.
When his biopsy results returned, Richard was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer. He was quickly referred to the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center with Jorge V. Perez De Armas, MD, medical oncologist, leading the charge in his plan of care.
Richard began bi-weekly infusion treatments in February, which will continue over the next six months. Richard had defeated stomach cancer before and was privy to how the process may go. He knew he needed the best team in his corner, and in true Richard fashion, he was not shy to make sure of that.
“I sat down and flat out asked him ‘Why should I stay here?’” recalled Richard on his first meeting with Dr. Perez. “And I have to tell you, from his answer that day, to every single time I walk through the Cancer Center doors, there is nowhere else I want my care to be done. Dr. Perez and Ali make me want to be here.”
Ali Kelly, RN, BSN, OCN is a chemotherapy educator at the Cancer Center. Alongside Dr. Perez, Ali’s goal is to ensure Richard is well versed in this journey every step of the way. From touring the facility, walking through every detail of medications, side effects and what to expect emotionally, she serves as Richard’s shoulder to lean during his fight with cancer.
“Richard just makes you gravitate towards him,” Ali said smiling and laughing. “I have the pleasure of helping him through his fight, while he has helped me in learning to look at the bright side of everything. He has the best attitude and is grounded in his faith through this all. That is simply one of the biggest parts of fighting cancer, and a quality that I admire.”
While Richard was impressed with the entire team at Tallahassee Memorial from the beginning, day in and day out he continues to be blown away by their team.
“This team has made me hit every comfort level possible,” he firmly stated. “I know this is not somewhere you want to be. But they make you feel so damn good. I cannot say enough about this team.”
Richard’s story is not finished by any means. While Bogey now has a new role of accompanying Richard in treatments, these two are fighting cancer, right here at home – and they will be back walking the halls of TMH, as the amazing Animal Therapy team that they are, before we know it.
