Freinds of Tracy Gibb III
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Bio - Tracy Allan Gibb III:
Tracy Allan Gibb III was born the son of Tracy Allan Gibb II and Melissa Marshall Gibb in Salisbury, Maryland on May 8, 1986.
In June 1986 his father enlisted in the United States Navy and they were relocated to their first duty station in Groton, Connecticut. In 1988 Tracy Jr. developed a hardened mass above his right eye as a result of a fall in which he struck a coffee table in the neighbor’s apartment while playing with their daughter. Tracy Jr. was promptly taken to a doctor and evaluated. After evaluation and fearing the loss of his eyesight was imminent, he was immediately medically evacuated by aircraft to Bethesda Naval Hospital where they began an extensive evaluation of the mass behind his right eye, along with the remainder of his body.
Following a Biopsy of the mass, the doctors at Bethesda Naval Hospital determined the mass behind his right eye to be a secondary tumor, locating a larger tumor in his abdomen. Tracy Jr. was diagnosed with a very rare and deadly form of pediatrics cancer known as Neuroblastoma Stage IV D. Tracy Jr. had a large primary tumor in his abdomen, the secondary tumor behind his right eye, and it was determined that the cancer had spread to his bone marrow. With a grim prognosis and little chance for survival, Tracy Jr. began a fight for his life that would take him through rigorous chemotherapy and radiation treatments over the course of the next several years. Also, an experimental and highly risky procedure known as an Autogulous Bone Marrow Rescue was performed at the Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. With only a 50/50 shot of surviving this procedure, Tracy Jr’s medical condition left little choice.
Tracy Jr. was only the 23rd person in the United States to attempt this experimental procedure. Tracy Jr. had a large amount of cancerous bone marrow removed from his pelvis which was then frozen and flown to a specialized lab which was tasked with purging the cancer cells from the marrow. While this was taking place, Tracy Jr. was administered lethal doses of radiation and chemotherapy. As the deadly effects of bone marrow suppression took a toll on his body, and his immune system diminished, his own bone marrow was being purged of the deadly cancer cells and prepared for return. As Tracy Jr. fought to stay alive with no immune system, the fatal bone marrow suppression setting in, and his own purged and cancer-free bone marrow was re-transplanted back into his pelvis in attempt to counter the lethal effects of bone marrow suppression.
During this time period Tracy Jr. was kept in reverse isolation for several months while his immune system vanished and then rejuvenated itself. The procedure was a success. After three months of reverse isolation Tracy Jr’s immune system had returned and he was well enough to be transported back to Bethesda Naval Hospital for follow on treatment and evaluation. Tracy Jr’s treatments for Neuroblastoma Stage IV culminated with his miraculously being proclaimed “Cured” in 1990. He was not supposed to have survived beating a grim 5% statistical chance, however, Tracy Jr. found the will and drive to beat all the odds.
Mr. Gibb (Tracy Jr’s father) tenure in the Navy was unexpectedly cut short when he was injured in the line of duty while participating in classified operations overseas in 1991. He was medically evacuated back to Washington State where he underwent numerous procedures to rectify his injuries. After approximately one year of medical attention and intense physical therapy, Mr. Gibb was unable to physically recover well enough to maintain the specialized qualifications that were required to fulfill his naval obligations. Mr. Gibb was honorably discharged with a Service-Connected disability in 1993, stemming from his “in the line of duty” injuries.
The family moved back across country to Salisbury, Maryland purchasing and moving into a modest home on the Southeast side of town. Tracy Jr. attended and graduated from Prince Street Elementary School, Bennett Middle School and then graduated from Bennett Senior High School with Honors in 2004. During his time in school, Tracy Jr. participated in many extracurricular activities such as playing baseball for the county league and wrestling in High School. During his years of playing baseball for the County League, Tracy Jr. won the coveted Sportsmanship Trophy for having the best attitude and displaying exceptional sportsmanship on and off the field. He was a true role model for many younger players. Tracy Jr. received numerous awards while in High School such as the Student Service Award and Honor Roll Achievements Award. Tracy Jr. was very active in S.H.O.P. (Students Helping Other People.) During his junior year in high school, Tracy Jr. was elected Vice President of S.H.O.P. and during his senior year was elected President of S.H.O.P. Tracy Jr. traveled to numerous schools and taught younger students about the ill-effect of drugs and encouraged them to remain clean and focused on their goals in life.
Also, during his senior year, Tracy Jr. volunteered as a student teacher/aid for freshman and sophomores. Tracy Jr. was very active in the scouting program. He was a Cub Scout, participated in the Pine Wood derby Race wining 3rd place overall and achieved the coveted “Arrow of Light.” Tracy Jr. went on to remain active in Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Life Scout and served as Senior Patrol Leader for several years. He attended Boy Scout Reservation Camp Henson to gain higher leadership skills and training to help younger Scouts achieve their goals. During his childhood and post-cancerous days, Tracy Jr. was subjected to yearly evaluations in which many after-effects to the radiation and chemotherapy were identified. Tracy Jr. developed Cataracts behind both eyes which were eventually large enough and had to be removed. He developed bone spurs, abnormal “spots” on his organs and other abnormalities that always kept the doctors scrambling, fearing the cancer had returned, however, these abnormalities were always attributed to the intense cancer treatments he experienced as a baby.
He remained cancer free. His never ending and cheerful disposition never wavered during this entire time period. Tracy has one of the best dispositions of anyone I have ever met and has a heart of Gold. Tracy Jr. was married to Miranda Kay Shields on September 8, 2007. His father was his Best Man at the ceremony. Ironically enough, it was on this very same date in 1988 that Tracy Jr. had been diagnosed with Neuroblastoma Stage IV D. Tracy and Miranda found God together during this time period and remain active members of Bethesda United Methodist Church located in Salisbury, Maryland to this very day. Tracy Jr. played softball for the Church softball team helping them achieve a Divisional Championship. Tracy Jr. remained active in the church softball league until his health left him with no other choice but to resign from that which he loved. Tracy Jr. began his first full-time employment as an Alarm System Technician for a local alarm company. He was very proud to have a full-time job and his own benefits for his family.
Also, during this time period Tracy Jr. was attending Wor-Wic Community College in pursuit of his Electronics Engineering Applied Science Degree. It is Tracy Jr’s current desire to someday work with his father for NASA or the Missile Defense Agency. Everything was going very well for Tracy Jr. He had a great job, was attending college and had started his own family. On September 10 2007 (two days after his wedding) Tracy Jr. was diagnosed with blood clots in the arteries in his leg. Unsure of where and how these clots came to be, the doctors were worried that they could break lose and travel to his heart killing him. The doctors immediately started him on medication to thin his blood and attempt to break up the clots. The treatments for blood clots continued for over a year. The blood clots left Tracy Jr. in a position where he could not remain on his feet for any length of time. This rendered him unable to work and he was placed on short term disability with his employer.
Given all the issues faced by Tracy Jr. and the family, we decided to take a “Family Vacation” in December/January 2007 spending 2-1/2 weeks at the Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida. This vacation also served as the “Honeymoon” for Tracy Jr. and Miranda. Shortly after their arrival in Florida, Tracy Jr. developed intense headaches and was taken to a local clinic where he was promptly sent to a hospital for evaluation. Scans revealed a 6 cm mass growing on the outside of his brain, attached to the lining of his brain.
Tracy Jr’s “Honeymoon” quickly developed into a nightmare. Further evaluation revealed that the tumor was not cancerous; however, doctors advised that if the tumor was not removed immediately it could result in his death. Tracy Jr. was immediately scheduled for surgery at the Orlando Hospital and within several days underwent major Brain Surgery to have this tumor removed. The operation was a success and much to the doctor’s surprise, Tracy Jr. was well enough o leave the hospital in just three days!
Needless to say, this young mans willpower and drive are incredible. He just wanted to see Minnie Mouse, or at least that is what I tell him. Tracy Jr. spent the remainder of his “Honeymoon” confined to bed attempting to recover well enough for the flight home. In early January the family returned home to Salisbury, Maryland and Tracy Jr. continued his recovery from brain surgery. Shortly after their arrival back from Florida, Tracy Jr. was diagnosed with having an infection in his skull as a result of the brain surgery.
On February 14, 2008 Tracy Jr. had to endure a second brain surgery to remove post-op infectious tissue. During this surgery it was determined that a large portion of his cranium was infected and the infected bone was also removed. Following the second brain surgery Tracy Jr. received intensive quantities and regimes of antibiotics to try and resolve the infection, and was required to wear a baseball helmet to protect the portion of his skull that had had the bone removed. Being an avid Yankee’s fan, Tracy Jr. found no issues with being required to wear his favorite batting helmet wherever he went.
Also during this time period Tracy Jr. began experiencing seizures of varying intensity. The doctors attributed the seizures with the settling of his brain in his skull following the removal of the large brain tumor. Tracy Jr. was started on anti-seizure medication and slowly, as his brain began to re-settle in his skull, the seizures ceased. The seizures left Tracy Jr. unable to drive a vehicle (as per Maryland law.) Tracy was on home health care for two months while he battled the infection in his skull.
On April 1, 2008 Tracy Jr. had to endure yet another and third brain surgery to have the missing bone in his skull replaced with prosthesis. Tracy Jr. slowly recovered from these surgeries. Already on Short Term disability for the effects of the blood clots, the seizures he was now experiencing and loss of his driving privileges only exasperated the situation with his employer. Tracy Jr. remained on short term disability for the better part of a year, unable to work or drive, until such time that he was let go by his employer. At that time all of Tracy Jr’s health and disability benefits ceased.
During a re-evaluation of his blood clots, the doctors discovered a small mass growing behind his left knee. A biopsy was scheduled and quickly completed; however, the biopsy was inconclusive. Several weeks following the biopsy of the mass behind his left knee, Tracy Jr. started noticing pain and swelling in his upper left thigh. Medical evaluation revealed a large mass growing in his upper left thigh in the area of the Femoral Artery. Again, a biopsy was scheduled and completed. This time the results were conclusive. The tumor was malignant and in December 2008 Tracy Jr. was diagnosed with Monophasic Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the Synovial Type. The cancerous tumor had grown through and around numerous veins and muscle tissue, to include the Femoral Vein, Venous Thrombus, 2 muscles and a nerve in his left leg. Tracy Jr. was very quickly started on chemotherapy.
He received two cycles of chemotherapy in a very short time period and was then scheduled for surgery on March 11, 2009. The purpose and scope of surgery was to remove the cancerous tumor in Tracy Jr’s leg, however, the doctors prepared him for the fact that he could lose his leg if the tumor had done too much damage. They wouldn’t know for sure until they had started the surgery, so, Tracy Jr. was prepared for the fact that he could awake with out one of his legs. The surgery was long and demanding on the doctors. They were meticulous in their removal of the cancerous tissue. The surgery lasted nine hours and they were able to save his leg. They had to remove a section of the Femoral Artery (graphed a new synthetic artery into place) some of the veins, a large portion of two major muscles and the nerve.
During the surgery they noted extensive venous invasion meaning the cancer has spread up ionto his abdomen and into the bloodstream. We now know that we were dealing with a Systemic disease, as opposed to a localized one. Tracy Jr. remains on pain medications and has just had the staples and surgical drain removed from his leg. He is in high spirits and maintains his determination to overcome this tremendous hurdle as he did previously. The tumorous tissue that was removed from his leg was frozen and sent to a lab where they are testing different chemotherapy drugs on it to determine which is most effective.
Once they have made the necessary determination, Tracy Jr. will begin a cycle of three more courses of chemotherapy. Following chemotherapy he will undergo radiation treatment. While his prognosis remains poor, his spirits and determination remain higher than ever. Tracy is no quitter and will beat this, his latest life trial. He firmly believes that God works in mysterious ways and lays obstacles in front of us to make us stronger and better people. It is our life trials that make us the people that we are today. Tracy Jr. embraces his latest test and will pass with flying colors to go on and lead a productive and long life with his family at his side.
Tracy Jr’s goals are to complete his EET degree and to go on to work with his father in the space or missile defense industry. He and his wife would love to be able to take the honeymoon they have never had the opportunity to experience as soon as his health will allow. He loves the Yankee’s and the Green Bay Packer’s.
