Barry Keith Alan Stettler

battle with cancer and gadolinium poisoning.

Born 4 Sep 1963 in Sunbury, PA, he joined the Air Force in 1981 and served 11 years before getting out

during the Clinton Administration military drawdown – a decision he regretted.

Barry was first diagnosed with lung cancer around 2016 - 2017. Recommended treatment consisted of

chemotherapy, which he was absolutely against, along with removing a majority of one lung. Instead, he

and Michele began a journey of researching alternative treatments, medicines and lifestyle changes. It

was during this time they discovered Proton Therapy, only to find out it was not a treatment provided by

the Veterans Administration (VA). Around 2020 Proton Therapy became available and he was treated for

lung cancer and brain tumors.

While Proton Therapy treatments proved to be successful initially, the MRIs prior to treatment resulted

in gadolinium overdose when multiple doses were injected in a single day. Gadolinium is a heavy metal

used as a contrast agent during MRI scans. When administered properly to healthy patients it is

normally filtered out of the body within 24 hours. Due to the overdose, his body was never able to rid

itself of the gadolinium.

After the Proton Therapy treatments Barry and Michele knew something was wrong due to how his

body was reacting. When their concerns were shared with members of the medical field they didn’t

have answers. After about three years their search for knowledge lead to the discovery of gadolinium

poisoning and how little is known about it within the medical field. Believing Barry’s unknown health

issues were related to gadolinium poisoning they requested he be tested but each request was denied.

Rather than accept no for an answer, they found two independent facilities in the U.S. who performed

the tests, paid for the tests themselves, and the results confirmed their suspicion.

Armed with the truth Barry and Michele began educating others, even Barry’s own oncologist who

would later experience gadolinium poisoning himself. And, due to Barry and Michele’s research along

with his own research after being made aware, he was able to immediately seek treatment.

Throughout his entire health challenge Barry was never one to complain. He had a great sense of humor

and shared it with everyone to the very end.

Barry is survived by his loving wife Michele; his children Takara and Trevor; his step-daughter Lilly; his

father Barry; his brother Tim; his sisters Cindy and Dee. He is proceeded in death by his mother Joanne.

Michele would like to offer special thanks to the attending staff at North Las Vegas Veterans

Administration Medical Center and to Nathan Adelson Hospice care.

A military service honoring Barry will be held at the Southern Nevada State Veterans Cemetery in

Boulder City, NV on 13 Nov 2026 at 1320.