By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

CAMPBELL

For equipment manager Gary Pushcar, the sign that something had gone terribly wrong with his body came when he dropped far too much weight in too short a period of time.

The fact that he wasn’t trying to shed any excess pounds had him totally baffled.

In the case of assistant coach Tommy Bayus, a sinus infection that wouldn’t go away, coupled with fatigue and difficulty when swallowing sent up his proverbial red flag.

He, too, was the victim of massive weight loss.

Integral parts of head coach Mickey Sikora’s Red Devils staff, Pushcar has been in the battle of his life as he fights Stage 4 pancreatic cancer while Bayus, a Campbell native who returned to the area this past year from Arizona, receives chemotherapy for Stage 4 stomach cancer.

The two, who had never met until this past year, have forged a unique friendship as they go through painful therapy sessions, always encouraging each other to remain strong no matter what the circumstances.

They’ve also served as an inspiration for the entire Red Devils staff and team, as well as the community of which they represent on Friday nights.

“Gary and Tommy are two very important members of our football family. You would never know about the struggles that they are currently experiencing, simply because they are always upbeat, never miss work and remain right there each and every day for the kids,” Sikora said. “They are both excellent role models with plenty of energy, despite their struggles.”

In Stage IV pancreatic cancer, the cancer can be any size and has spread to distant organs, such as the lung, liver and peritoneal cavity (the space in the abdomen that contains the intestines, stomach, and liver).

It may also have spread to tissue and organs near the pancreas or to lymph nodes as well.

A 1969 graduate of Brookfield High School, Pushcar never played sports in high school, opting instead to utilize his drumming skills as a member of the Warriors’ upbeat marching band.

He earned his health and physical education degree in 1974 from YSU, but became an electrician after his apprenticeship was up and for the next 39 years became a dues paying member of Youngstown’s I.B.E.W. (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), Local 64.

“It was May 24, 2012 and that remains a day that I will never forget. I had no appetite and dropped entirely too much weight for my liking so I went to my family doctor, Dr. Patsy Buccino in Girard. He immediately scheduled a colonoscopy and endoscopy,” Pushcar said. “The results showed a tumor in my stomach so I was sent to the Cleveland Clinic, where it was discovered that my cancer had, in fact, started in the pancreas.

“The doctors later found out that it had spread to my upper intestine, stomach and lymph nodes and was already at Stage 4. I had no warning signs whatsoever.”

Scared initially and rightfully so, Pushcar never lost his positive attitude and has in fact, embraced the treatment that has been mapped out by his doctors.

Initially told that he would have just a year to live, Pushcar receives the drug Abraxane and now some 16 months later, remains optimistic and in good spirits at what the drug has done for him and how he feels, even after treatment.

“Abraxane was originally intended for breast cancer patients, but they found out that it works on patients with pancreatic cancer. It still needs FDA approval, but to date it sure has done wonders for me,” Pushcar said. “They tell you as a cancer patient to keep doing what you like to do and I am doing just that as Campbell Memorial’s equipment manager. Your nerves release emotions you thought you never had.

“I never cried at my diagnosis, but couldn’t eat or sleep and cried like a baby when my wife, Patty, suffered a heart attack a little over a month ago. That really shook me up.”

Pushcar said the support of his wife and children have been the key during his ordeal, vowing he will be there for her as well during her recovery process.

“I try to help out with the house work and we both continually encourage and support each other. You just go day to day and for me that means helping with everything and everyone around me,” he added. “My cancer count has gone from 5,000 to 407 this past July so something is working.

“Mickey, without fail, texts good luck every Wednesday when I receive my treatment and that is so very special. Sometimes you get down emotionally, just wondering if the treatments are going to work. I’m very lucky in that the cancer hasn’t hit any other major organs and since starting my treatments, I haven’t gotten very sick so I consider myself one of the very lucky ones.”

Bayus is a Campbell native but when his father lost his job locally, the family relocated to Phoenix where he played football, baseball and wrestled for his alma mater, Deer Valley High School.

Born with a hearing impairment, he would go on to letter in football at Glendale (Ariz.) Community College, later earning his BS in physical education degree from Arizona State University.

A former football coach and teacher for several schools in and around the Phoenix area, Bayus was experiencing heartburn so his doctor ordered an endoscopy exam and on April 4, 2012 (on his brother Donny’s birthday), it was revealed that he had a 4-centimeter tumor in his stomach.

Originally thought to be Stage 2 or 3, he would later learn that the cancer was Stage 4 and had metastasized, spreading to the lymph nodes in his groin.

“You cannot operate on that type of cancer and in Arizona and they didn’t offer MIE or minimally invasive esophagectomy. I did some research and found that they performed that particular type of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,” Bayus said. “It was a challenge financially and there are so many people I have to thank, but I was able to get back to the area and finally have this taken care of.”

Fundraisers by his family, Hands Across America in Anthem, Arizona, Toso’s Sports Grille in Phoenix and Deer Valley High School’s baseball team helped not only with transportation expenses to Pittsburgh, but also when it came time to defray rising medical costs.

Despite the many advances in chemotherapy, the overall chance of chemotherapy being curative is still low and the side effects difficult for many patients to endure.

When cancers are confined to the peritoneal cavity, like Bayus’, then Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) becomes a viable option.

Surgery has yielded the entire tumor from his abdominal cavity and Oxaliplatin chemotherapy, which he receives every three weeks, has currently stabilized the cancer.

“The treatment seems to be working and my next scan, which will take place in late October, will tell us a lot more,” Bayus said. “Family, friends and my doctors tell me not to worry so I try to remain positive and just keep busy.”

The common denominator for Bayus and the path that led him to his current position on the Red Devils’ coaching staff involved one of Sikora’s high school teammates at Struthers High School, Richie McGraw.

“Richie, who is also deaf, played with coach Sikora in high school and he was able to secure a meeting for me,” Bayus said. “I expressed to him my love for coaching and helping out with the kids, so I cannot thank him enough for giving me an opportunity to be a member of his staff this year.”

Bayus’ family includes four supportive children in Arizona, relatives both locally and in Arizona as well as girlfriend, Amy Kosmo, from Struthers.

“Everyone cooperates when I travel or communicate through video relay service. It is a great feeling to have that support,” he added.

Bayus, whose chemotherapy sessions take place at Boardman’s Blood and Cancer Center, said yearly checkups, being aware of symptoms and early detection are paramount if you expect to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Don’t ignore the symptoms and listen to the warning signs. Eat small portions of food and don’t over-eat,” he said. “Exercise is also a big help.”

According to Sikora, both Pushcar and Bayus remain a big inspiration to everyone related to the Red Devils’ football family.

“In the case of Gary, I don’t know if anyone in the area has a better equipment manager than us. He takes pride in what he does and will do anything for our program,” Sikora noted. “He works well with our Booster Club and in the overall scheme of things is my right hand man.

“As for Tommy, he is a very knowledgeable coach who aligns our secondary with our scout teams and our upcoming opponents’ coverages. He’s hands on with both the offensive and defensive line and our players have remarked many times over that they want to pay extra attention to the detail that he provides.

“Both are excellent role models, have a tremendous amount of energy and serve as an inspiration to me as well.”