Gary Reece

Dear Family and Friends,

On January 23, 2026, Gary Reece was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. For nearly a year, he had not been feeling like himself. He had very little energy, was constantly short of breath, and knew something just wasn’t right. After routine bloodwork at a follow-up appointment, Gary received a call he never expected. His bloodwork indicated leukemia, and he was told to “get his affairs in order.”

Although the news was devastating, Gary and his family immediately jumped into action. The following week, arrangements were made for him to go to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, where doctors performed a bone marrow biopsy. The results confirmed that Gary had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Thankfully, his blast rate was on the lower end, and he was able to begin his first round of chemotherapy the next week. From the very beginning, Gary faced it with the best attitude — determined to “kick its butt.”

After spending a week at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, we were finally able to bring him home. Unfortunately, we had not been home even 30 minutes when Gary received another heartbreaking call. His little brother, Larry, had passed away in a tragic accident. Without hesitation, Gary got in the car with one of his sons-in-law and drove to Tennessee.

As many of you know, chemotherapy severely weakens the immune system. After being around so many people in Tennessee, Gary became sick and ended up back in the hospital. Since then, he has had several setbacks from small illnesses that his body has had a hard time fighting off.

Through it all, Gary has continued to fight. After several rounds of chemotherapy and many prayers, he has now reached the point where he is able to undergo a stem cell transplant. We are so thankful that he was fortunate enough to find an exact match. His transplant is scheduled for the beginning of June and will require him to stay at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital for approximately five weeks.

Once he is released from the hospital, the next step in his recovery will require him to stay close by. One of the transplant requirements is that Gary must live near the hospital for two months in case any complications arise. We have found a house for him in Winston-Salem, where he will stay during that time. He will also need 24-hour care. Thanks to the help of friends and family, we are going to be able to care for him ourselves, but the expenses are starting to add up.

If you know Gary, you know his sense of humor, his contagious smile, and his big heart. His family means everything to him, and his grandkids sure do love their “Papa.” We appreciate all of the kind words, love, support, and prayers more than you know. Please keep them coming. Gary has a long road ahead of him, but we believe he is going to come out stronger.

In his words, “I still have a lot more adventures to go on!”