72-Year-Old Beats Two Cancers, Still Masters the BBQ Pit

When Gilbert Rea collapsed in his Orcutt backyard in 2010, he thought he was having a heart attack. The diagnosis turned out to be chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and the then-55-year-old oil field veteran was completely blindsided.

"When they told me, I was in my mid-50s thinking, 'How does this come about?'" Rea recalled. But he didn't have time to dwell on the shock.

Under the care of Dr. April Kennedy, Rea tackled three rounds of chemotherapy followed by targeted therapy. He became one of the first patients at Mission Hope Cancer Center when it opened in 2012, continuing treatment while maintaining the Sunday football BBQ gatherings he'd hosted for decades.

For twelve years, Rea managed his leukemia with medication. Then in 2022, stomach pains revealed stage 4 stomach cancer.

Doctors stopped his leukemia treatment to make room for chemotherapy, but his blood counts wouldn't cooperate. On Halloween 2024, surgeons removed his entire stomach, connecting his esophagus directly to his intestine.

"Believe it or not, he eats more now than he did before," his wife Susie laughed. Instead of large meals, the 72-year-old grazes throughout the day with no food restrictions.

That means game day tri-tip, chicken, ribs, and pinquito beans cooked Santa Maria style are still on the menu. The gatherings now include four generations of family, including two great-grandchildren.

Sunny's Take

Two years after his stomach surgery, Rea is in complete remission from both cancers. He receives monthly immunotherapy infusions and works part-time at V. Lopez & Sons, where he oversees equipment maintenance.

"For me, it's a hobby job. It's my therapy," Rea explained. His employers accommodate his medical appointments and encourage him to rest when needed.

Rea credits Dr. Kennedy for his survival. "She's known me from Day One. She knows my body, how I react, and she stays on top of everything."

Now serving as Mission Hope Cancer Center's 2026 Day of Hope Santa Maria Ambassador, Rea wants other patients to know that fighting is worth it. "If I can just give one person a little more hope about what they're going through, I'd like that," he said.

His message is simple: stay strong, lean on your people, and keep moving forward. "I've got my family and I'm going to fight this 'til I can no longer do it."

And on Sundays, you'll still find him exactly where he belongs: standing over the BBQ pit, surrounded by the people he loves.