In this town we fight together!

Local family embraces the love and support from the community as Paris man battles Glioblastoma cancer

By Casandra Turnbull

Cancer is a terrifying word that holds entirely new meaning when it hits your home. The diagnosis puts life into a new perspective, for both the patient and their family members.

For one lifelong Paris man, an outpouring of local support has strengthened his faith and fed his determination to overcome any odds, despite his cancer diagnosis.

Like most things that happened during the pandemic, Gary Wright’s cancer came by complete surprise, with little warning.

During the spring of 2021, the 54-year-old Paris man, who grew up in town and was raised on the Junction, thought he was battling Covid. He displayed the typical symptoms and even a visit to the ER confirmed his suspicions However, three weeks after his ‘Covid diagnosis’, Gary’s headaches intensified and he started misjudging space into doorways, walking into walls and his peripheral vision in his left eye was failing, often leaving him with visions of shapes similar to what you’d see when you look through a kaleidoscope. He went back to the ER and a CT scan revealed a mass on his brain He was diagnosed with a brain tumour A June 2021 surgery to remove the mass later confirmed he had Grade 4 Glioblastoma (GBM).

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Gary Wright with his wife Heidi and daughters Skylar and Schae-Lee in front of Jigs N’ Reels in Paris. Several local businesses showed support for Gary’s fight against Glioblastoma ahead of his February 23rd surgery. Jiggs N’ Reels owner Gina and her husband, pilot Brad Cordon, (who has worn his Team Gary shirt on more than 40,000 km travelled during flights), put up the sign for support, making special reference to Gary’s baseball number 29.

During the 2023 Paris Terry Fox Run, the Wrights (with Team Gary support) raised over $2,000 for cancer research.

“We were very naive as to the extent and seriousness of this diagnosis,” said Heidi Wright, Gary’s wife of 34 years “We didn’t grasp what Grade 4 meant and had never heard of Glioblastoma.”

In a way, and perhaps inadvertently, they didn’t want to understand the prognosis. The less they knew, the more Gary was able to keep his mind clear and focus on the fight ahead of him. He put his faith in the Lord, refused to look up the statistics surrounding Glioblastoma and remained determined to concentrate on his own battle, not how others battled the disease. The odds didn’t matter; he knew it was a battle of a lifetime and he wanted to fight it every step of the way, his way. Heidi, on the other hand, researched a bit about Glioblastoma and her findings were startling. She recalls the moment she understood the gravity of his cancer diagnosis when she compared it to Gord Downie’s journey Downie, the frontman for Tragically Hip, also fought the same type of brain cancer, eventually succumbing to the disease in October 2017. In that moment of realization, the magnitude of what the Wrights were facing was acutely clear. With Covid restrictions in place at hospitals across the country, Gary walked into the hospital for his first surgery, physically alone but mentally supported by an army of friends and family back at home in Paris

By the Grace of God, hospital visitor restrictions were lifted the day after his surgery and his family was able to visit and support him in recovery. Gary and Heidi’s oldest daughter Skylar is a nurse, so she aided them valuable guidance and understanding of his medication and scheduling throughout his recovery.

Their youngest daughter, SchaeLee, lent as much nurturing love, and mental support as possible while her dad continued his recovery at home. Friends and family dropped by to offer support and encouragement, sneaking in porch visits and FaceTime calls to help protect his weakened immune system. People sewed and gifted cancer quilts, organized and delivered meal trains and their church

Team Gary shirts were sold in the fall of 2021 raising over $4,600 in sales which were all donated to Brain Cancer Research at London Health Sciences. Heidi & Gary shown making the donation family, Paris Presbyterian, maintained a church prayer chain that didn’t go unnoticed. Gary had 30 days of straight chemotherapy and radiation, which yielded a blood clot in his lung during that time. When he was strong enough, he transitioned to a 5/23 chemo schedule which is one chemo pill for five days straight and off for 23 days This cycle repeated six times. He continued to build his strength with physiotherapy, which sounds easier said than done when you have no energy. He underwent MRIs every three months to keep an eye on any new growth since this cancer is known to grow back at a rapid pace.

Also growing was the Wright’s knowledge on Glioblastoma and brain cancer. Gary started to advocate for funding and speak out on his personal journey. He was interviewed by the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada where he shared his cancer journey. You can watch Gary’s personal story of hope here.

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Life changed following his original diagnosis. He gave up his 30+ year career/business, Wrightway Construction Ltd to focus on the fight for his life.

“That is still hard to grasp knowing he had to give up a love he so enjoyed,” said Heidi. But throughout the bumpy road Gary’s faith and positivity never wavered In the face of adversity, Gary has not backed down.

Life started to settle into a new normal until early this year when Gary woke up one morning with decreased mobility on one side and he had a hard time grasping onto objects. The Wrights made the trip to Woodstock Hospital where they learned the results of an MRI he had undergone just two days prior The tumour was back, this time in the Parietal Lobe. He underwent another surgery on February 23rd at University Hospital They are waiting for the results of a pathology conducted on the mass that was removed. They meet with the oncologist in another week to discuss the next treatment planchemotherapy and physiotherapy will once again occupy his days.

The Wrights have embraced the familiar outpour of support from friends, family and even strangers in Paris Online social media posts are another solid show of support for Team Gary, filling news feeds days before and after his surgery.

“In this Town we fight Together” went viral, at least locally, and people donned sweaters, raised flags, and shared signs outside of area businesses, a visual acknowledgement that Gary remains in everyone’s thoughts.

Keeping everyone apprised of Gary’s battles, successes and setbacks over the last couple of years has been encompassing, which is why Heidi created Facebook Friday Updates to keep everyone in the loop. These social feeds have also allowed the Wrights to find others that are walking the same journey so they can lean on one another, share stories, and ask advice.

Days leading into Gary’s most recent surgery, Heidi asked for community support, and she was not let down “I asked those to wear Team Gary shirts or grey clothing (as a grey ribbon is symbolic of brain cancer awareness) to show him all the love and support he has from so many,” said Heidi. The flood of support is truly humbling, the Wrights acknowledged.

“It takes a village, knowing we aren’t alone in this journey,” they said, sharing their story with The Paris Independent.

“People may say how the town is growing, but it’s still small-town love we feel,” said Gary. “The outpouring of support and prayers my family and myself have received is absolutely incredible,” he added.

Team Gary shirts were sold in the fall of 2021. The town of Paris wanted to help in some way, and they did, raising over $4,600 through sales and donations with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Brain Cancer Research at London Health Sciences Centre. More financial support came last fall when Team Gary raised another $2,000 for the 2023 Terry Fox run/walk in Paris.

The Wrights feel truly blessed to have the support of the community and want to issue a heartfelt thankyou to all supporters in Paris (and surrounding area) for the messages of encouragement, phone calls, meals, prayers and simply for expressing their love The impact is more profound that words can describe.

Sharing this journey, they say, is about creating empathy not sympathy, and ultimately has been incredibly therapeutic.

“When you are affected by cancer, you will do anything and everything to bring awareness and help to find a cure,” said Heidi. More information about Glioblastoma and the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, or how to make a financial donation, is available online.