Billy Gowacki lives on a small island outside Tampa Bay and enjoys regular outdoors pursuits such as fishing snook, red fish and sea trout. When he has the occasion to leave the island, he is an avid visitor to city museums where he engages in interests like Egyptology and volcanoes. Billy's eyes light up when he talks about the latest in Egyptian archaeology and the exploits of Dr. Zahi Hawass, a well-known conservationist of Egyptian monuments and relics.
"I always dreamed that when I grew up I would be some kind of '...ologist', such as a volcanologist or an Egyptologist," says Billy. "But I am also just generally interested in science. Having had to deal with cancer at such a young age, I have had to learn a lot about my disease and how it's commonly treated. Now I have even thought about becoming an oncologist and dedicating my life to cancer research."
Billy was just ten years old when he found out he had Ewing's sarcoma in his right distal femur. His initial pediatrician had attributed his recurring aches to 'growing pain', delaying treatment for close to a year. When the disease was finally recognized, the team of doctors said he would lose his leg. However, after several months of chemotherapy, a bout with leukemia and a bone marrow transplant for which he found a perfect match, Billy has since made a full recovery and undergone a successful knee and hip replacement in addition to having a successful implant from Stryker GMRS™ that has allowed him to lead a more normal life.
"I have always kept a positive attitude throughout the entire process and believe it's very important to remember to laugh, eat well and not believe any of the statistics you hear with regard to treatment and survivor rates. Overall, I am just truly grateful for the technology that is now available with modular replacement systems. It has helped restore my quality of life," says Billy.
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A high school teacher and Little League coach, Steve Fish knows the importance of doing research and choosing the right play. For him, finding the right doctor and the right solution to address... 
