Gary F. Shares How Ringing the Chime Brought Tears of Gratitude to His Eyes
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Gary’s diagnosis of prostate cancer didn’t stop him from doing what he’s always done in his vocation as a police officer and a school resource officer: building community. He quickly named the group of guys having treatment alongside him his “band of brothers,” and they have stayed in touch even years beyond their time at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. On the day he rang the chime to mark completion of treatment, he had about 45 people there to witness and celebrate with him, including his family, friends, and a special guest playing the bagpipes.
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00:00:30 Speaker Rich Jones
Our latest chime story from the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is delivered by Gary Fiske, born and raised in Jacksonville. You know him if you've lived at the beaches for a while. He's a retired police officer from Neptune Beach, school resource officer, and his cancer journey began after a PSA test in 2022 where doctors found four areas of interest.
00:00:50 Speaker Gary Fiske
Just a scary thing. I've been healthy all my life.
00:00:53 Speaker Rich Jones
Gary started treatment at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute in 2023 after some research.
00:00:58 Speaker Gary Fiske
After you get there's a family of people. And there were several of us that graduated within a week's time. And so I named this the Band of Brothers and already had a social, a couple of socials that we'd, you know, gone to South Carolina for and stuff like that. So and we all stayed in contact with one another.
00:01:16 Speaker Rich Jones
He had 41 treatments.
00:01:17 Speaker Gary Fiske
Proton was the way to go and it was treated in three different stages.
00:01:23 Speaker Rich Jones
And when the treatment was over?
00:01:24 Speaker Gary Fiske
And I rang the chimes July the 10th of 2023. 45 people out there in the lobby downstairs. I don't know where they all came from, but about 45 people. So it was just amazing. And, you know, I gave a little spiel before I rang the Chimes and, you know, brought tears to my eyes and, you know, thank my Lord and Savior. And my daughter. She was there for me and my granddaughter.
00:01:48 Speaker Rich Jones
But Gary's Chime experience also had a little surprise.
00:01:51 Speaker Gary Fiske
When I finished ringing the Chimes, I told them I had a little...special treat for them. I love banjos and stuff. And so I had a friend of mine come play the banjo. So I holler upstairs, I said, “Tim, you got it, buddy.”
00:02:03 Speaker Gary Fiske
He came down the stairwell with bagpipes, playing his bagpipes. And I mean, it was just ovation, clapping.
00:02:10 Speaker Rich Jones
Gary's become an advocate for prostate cancer screening, as well as an ambassador at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute.
00:02:16 Speaker Gary Fiske
You've got a lot of stories, a lot of different things you can tell people and help them with to ease what they're going through.
00:02:21 Speaker Rich Jones
Rich Jones, 104.5 WOKV.
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