Gary and Bev and Sarah and Daniel have been and continue to be so encouraged by all the texts, calls, and messages they’ve received. Please continue to encourage them and continue to pray. At this time the family is requesting that there be no visitors. We encourage you to respect their privacy in these days.

Bev shared this latest update on social media:

Once again our family wants to thank all of you for your love, support and prayers. These last couple of weeks have been hard for all of us, as we’ve watched our beloved husband, son, father, Pappadeaux, brother, uncle, friend and shepherd struggle with Ocular Melanoma metastases.

Most of you know that Gary was admitted to Baylor Scott and White Hospital on Saturday when his pain became too great to manage at home. His wonderful doctors here are working hard to get his pain under control, but last night he had another problem, which is presumed to be a fractured rib (his second fracture).

It is with tears that I share that his cancer has spread throughout his body. As a result, his bilirubin levels are too high for any more treatment plans.

The palliative doctor here is trying to get his pain managed so he can go home with a fentanyl patch. He’s also scheduled for ten days of radiation on the T3 vertebrae and the fractured rib in his back. He will remain hospitalized until that’s completed.

When we leave the hospital he will be on hospice care at home, knowing that we’ve done everything possible to fight this demon. His desire is to spend his last days on this earth with his family, friends and flock.

He wants me to convey his great love and gratitude to all of you, as we continue to celebrate everyday we have together this side of eternity. We are beyond grateful to God for the hope we have in Him. This world is not our home.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18