I don't care if you pray or not....maybe you meditate...whatever, please think to send all the best Gary Diamond's way.

We only became close about a year or two ago, when we gave him the Synthzone appreciation award.

He is facing irreversible health issues with uncommon courage and a realistic attitude.

We should ALL exhibit that level of class!

Russ

Yes, I talked to Gary yesterday and he is maintaining a positive attitude and still trying to play music at home, although his kb is in the hospital right now.
On top of his problems, his wife, Carol, is experiencing some health issues as well.
They are in my prayers.

Prayers for Gary and Carol
Two beautiful people 💖🙏💖

Trying to plan a day trip to see him, when ever Logan is stable enough for me to feel comfortable leaving the state.

DAMN! I got Gary Kobe Beef steaks for Christmas from all of us here at Synthzone.

Now, I'm afraid to try the damn things.

Russ

I'll try 'em. Gary says they are fantastic.

Gary and Carol, Although we have never met...it feels as though I’ve known you both for years. With all the wonderful things people on the forum have said about you both, I have no doubt they are all true.
You are both in my thoughts and prayers with the hope for comfort and peace at this difficult time.
Mitch Irish

Gary and Carol remain in our prayers ...

I have long said that the next second is not guaranteed to anyone ... We have all seen terminally ill people live for years, and seemingly healthy people die at very young ages ...

Very recently, the drummer from our band in NY passed after battling cancer for a couple of years ... all five of us were probably closer than most 'blood' brothers ... whenever I called him, he would just say "well, I'm still here, guess the Lord doesn't want me yet, but when he does, I'm ready" ...
My wife's sister has been battling pancreatic cancer for almost two years, but she lives her life as if nothing is wrong ... I call her the 'poster child' for this disease ...

We are all going out of this world the same way ... I can only hope I would have the same attitude as these people when my time comes ...

I was thinking of Gary's PSR contributions while perusing that site today. What a tremendous resource and a real legend did it.

Hoping you stay comfortable and can enjoy your hobbies. God Speed Gary

Gary and Carol,

Wishing you the best and you are in my prayers! I will never forget the wonderful hosts you and Carol were in 2014 at your arranger jam! And that’s not even to mention the tips you’ve given us thru the years. Oh yea I cannot forget the great gig clothing you supplied me with some of it still brand new in it’s original boxes! Those vests are the sharpest around!

Definitely extend our best wishes and prayers for Gary and Carol. I've learned a wealth of things from the Forum and "mass quantities" of what I consumed were courtesy of Gary. Wishing he and Carol the very best for their health and happiness.

My Carol and I have enjoyed our visits with Gary and his Carol here in Florida and in Maryland. His expertise on Yamaha PSRs helped me transition from working in bands to playing singles. He's always been there when I have called for help or gotten back to me ASAP....and there have been many times I relied on his recommendations. Without a doubt, he has been the single most influence on my little musical enterprise. Carol has been his rock and we are proud to call both of them our friends.
Eddie

I met Gary a few years ago at one of Don Mason's music events. My wife and I got to have dinner with Gary and his wife and I had a great opportunity to tell him how much he had contributed to me getting started playing arranger keyboards. You know he is active on the PSRTutorial forum as well as this one. Just about every time I had a question he was the first to respond with a real answer. I often wonder if he really knows how many people he has helped through the years. I too will have him In my prayers and wish both of them the very best.

Deane

Praying for you Gary to get well soon and come back to visit us here.

My prayers continue for Gary and his wife. You don't have to know someone to sense the warmth and caring nature they possess. Gary is so generous and helpful to anybody wanting to explore new features of Arranger Keyboards... both here and at Joe Water's Place. Mr. One of a Kind! Get better soon... both of you.

If I could, I'd adopt him...Carol, too, although he'd probably beat my butt if he caught me flirting with her.

Dammit, he probably would.


Russ (proud to know you) Lay

Well, I'm not dead, YET! Though, I was not sure I was going to make it through the night and struggled for each and every breath until the meds kicked in about 2 a.m.. The lungs have been really bad during the past week, the worst of which was when I ended a 14-day stint of Prednisone, which has nasty side effects, weight gain (15-pounds), insomnia, moon face, loss of appetite to name a few. The only upside of this medication is it opens the airways enough for me to breathe easier. Pulmonary Fibrosis makes that I no longer can breathe normally with my chest and Diaphram, but instead, must rely on my abdominal muscles. As this disease progresses, the lungs loose their elasticity and take on the consistency of shoe leather. Essentially, I am slowly suffocating to death.

My prognosis is not good, the docs told me three years ago that I had one to two years to live, but so far, I've beat the odds, though not for much longer the way things are progressing. In that light, my last contribution will be to the University Of Maryland School of Medicine's Anatomy Lab. When I die, my wife merely makes a single phone call to the Maryland Anatomy Board, they send someone out to pick up my old, dead, carcass, and haul me away to the lab. At this point, a bunch of kids in medical school will learn to do some minor surgical procedures first hand, find out what killed this old fart, and after a year, incinerate my remains, place them in a box and send them back to Carol to be disposed of. She said she will have our children place both of our ashes in a grave site we own that is close to home.

Carol had a hip replacement 3 months ago, spent a month in rehab, goes to out patient therapy a couple days a week, but she's pretty much wheel chair bound, though she can get around with a wheeled walker and drive to her doctors appointments. She is scheduled to have a knee replacement in the same leg in March. She will likely spend at least two months in inpatient physical therapy after surgery. My biggest fear at this time is not surviving till she gets back home and not being here to take care of her when she will need it most.

I truly appreciate the well wishes from everyone here on this wonderful forum, and feel gifted that I had the opportunity to meet with many of the members in person both at the Synthzone Jam here and during my travels to the sunny south and southwest US over the years. Captain Russ Lay and I have been in close contact for the past couple years, talking on the telephone at least once a week, and more while his son Logan was in the hospital. I knew a fair amount about Logan's malady, since Cardio/Pulmonary medicine was the field I specialized in when I worked at the University of Maryland Hospital and The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for more than 15 years. I tried to assure Russ that Logan would get through this OK, though for a while it was touch and go for his condition.

As Tony said, there are no guarantees about that next second, which is true for just about anything. I guess my only advantage comes from working all those years in medicine, and seeing others die from this disease. I know what the end will be like, and know that the docs will do their level best to keep me alive as long as possible, regardless of the suffering I will ultimately undergo in the process. When things become unbearable, I have a bottle of pills that will end the suffering within a few minutes.

I apologize for not being very active on this and other forums lately, but most of the time I spend going to and from various doctors appointments and taking care of Carol as best I can. Thank goodness, my daughter, Laura, is just 12 miles away, and she now does the grocery shopping and takes care of a few things that need attention around our house. She is a wonderful, thoughtful person and I am so proud of both my children.

Thanks again for caring, everyone,

Gary

I only 'know' Gary via this forum, and you don't have to look far to see what kind of person he is, and all the contributions he's made - always for the betterment of our work/hobby. Keep on keepin' on, sir.

A very touching post, Gary. So sorry your health is failing. We are all going through something; so we all understand. We never did get a chance to sample your Kickapoo Joy Juice. I should market it in your honor. I hope you have many more GOOD days ahead of you!

Ahhh Gary, my ol Navy Pal. Hang in there sailor, blue sky's ahead.

Gary, it's hard reading about your health problems, but as Al (kbrkr) says, "We are all going through something; so we all understand.". I hope, as with all of us, that your/our remaining days be as comfortable and meaningful as possible. Go Navy (hope you got a chance to ride a few WAVES while you were in ).

chas

Well, thank goodness for that.
What can one say , but,
All the best to you and your wife Carol.

Hoping the very best for you and your family. Thanks for all you do, Gary!