SEQUIM — Friends of Gary Scott, a 59-year-old husband and father of five who is about to undergo a bone marrow transplant, are organizing benefit events designed to raise funds to pay for his rising medical costs.
About one year ago, Scott, owner of Pacific Auto Repair in Sequim, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a disease similar to leukemia in which a person’s bone marrow doesn’t produce enough normal blood cells.
The diagnosis came as a shock to the family, since Scott had always been an active man who coached in youth athletic leagues, said his wife, Sharon.
“The guy has been healthy his entire life,” she said.
“He’d never go to the doctor.
“I had to get mad at him before he would go to a doctor to find out what was wrong with him.”
Sharon says Gary’s problems began about two years ago, when he started suffering from severe bouts of fatigue.
But doctors couldn’t diagnose any specific ailments until last year, when they informed his family about his bone marrow dysfunction.
By that time, he was receiving about two blood transfusions per month.
First chemotherapy
Sharon Scott said her husband underwent his first session of chemotherapy on Monday and is expected to get the bone marrow transplant — which is coming from Germany — within a few days.
She also said their five sons are planning to visit their father this weekend.
“[Gary] is doing fine right now,” she said.
“I think it’s difficult on our boys because it’s their dad.
“For me, I just know that he’s going to get through this and will come out the other side.”
Friends have organized several events to help pay for medical costs not covered by the Scotts’ medical insurance.
“The family is handling his illness really well,” said Gina Moore, a co-organizer of events along with Suzi Ballard.
“But the family is looking at really large dollars coming out of their pocket.”
With the help of other friends, Moore and Ballard have set up a benefit belly dancing concert for Feb. 23 in the Peninsula College’s Pirate Union Building, or PUB.
Then on March 5, they are holding a spaghetti feed at Queen of Angels Church in Port Angeles, followed by an April 9 benefit dance and auction at the Elks Naval Lodge in downtown Port Angeles.
They also have set up a bank account at local branches of US Bank in which donations can be made to “the Gary Scott fund.”
Wife still working
Sharon Scott says she continues to work at the east Port Angeles Safeway store, although she drives to Seattle on her days off to be near her husband.
She thanked her friends for helping out during this difficult time, but said she’s also going to continue to work as long as she can.
“I have to keep working,” she said.
“I’m the money for the family.”
For more information about the benefit events for the Scott family, call Ballard at 360-452-1602 or Moore at 360-452-2947.