Hi my name is MissieFalzone ,I'm fund raising for my friend Richard Catrone who is battling stage 4 cancer. This is his story in his word....

Hello, My name is Richard Catrone

I used to be just like you, I worked, I paid my bills,I paid my taxes, tried to be a good Human, Enjoyed my friends

just like you

In May 2019,,,,that changed,,,,,after not being able to eat,and a large amount of weight loss,,,I made an appt For an Endoscopy....they found I had Esophageal cancer........they then Ordered a Liver Biopsy to see if it had spread, and it did, I was Diagnosed, with Stage 4 inoperable Esophageal, and Liver Cancer.......and Life Changed,,,,,I'm no longer Like you......I was told I would need a port in my chest, for the chemotherapy,,,,this was done in June 2019....by July of 2019,,,,I had passed out, and they found I had contacted a Staph Infection, either from the Port, or when they did my Biopsy..they also realized I had been Hemorrhaging Internally...By july I was in the Hospital,,,they had to stop Chemo, and put me on Antibiotics,,,,,and Blood Transfusions,,,,they had to remove my Port because that might have been the source of the infection...after almost two weeks,,,,and the insertion of another Port,,,I returned home, and would start my Chemotherapy Again.

By August,,,,,I could no longer work, and was placed on Disability.....I was no longer like you,,,life changed again

And I would Start my Chemotherapy ......I would be in the Chemotherapy suite for 4 to 5 hrs,,,thank goodness I have some good friends who take me, and hang out with me,,,,the side effects sucked,,,,but hopefully it was keeping me alive

No Work,,,,No Money.....trying to accept something ,,,,,that you really didn't want to accept...were new challenges,,,,,Chemo,,,,and Catscans,,,were my new reality....and humans are adaptable

By 2020,,,,,things sucked but the Pandemic,,,,changed things again,,,,it took longer to get an appt for Chemo,,,,,,my friend Missie who came with me to the Chemo Suite,,,,,would now wait in her car, in the parking lot,,,for 4 HOURS !

In 2020,,,,,,they also found the Cancer had now spread to Lungs,,,,,not good news.....Reality hit again

I had just watched two friends Die of cancer,,,,,,so the "You can beat this"......"there"s always new Drugs" wasnt't working

I would still do Chemo......but I also had to plan for the what if's.....a home for my dog, my tropical fish, planning a funeral and Paying for It ! Paying your rent,and utilities,insurance,gas,oil, medical bills,drugs food,,,,,on a disability chk,,,,is not easy,,,,,but you get creative, and learn to cut back.

My life now consisted of Chemo therapy, a Catscan, a trip to the Supermarket in a face mask and full gear,,,,,,,,and home, to rest,,,,I was starting to get Tired and sick, from the Chemotherapy.

After another one of my Cat scans.....they had found,,,,that while the Chemo had shrunk some of the Tumors,,,,,,but now they had found the cancer had spread to some of my Lymph Nodes......Ok....not good at all........Stage 4 Inoperable,,,,Esophageal, Liver,Lung, and now Lymph Cancer.....this really isn't good....once again, Life Changed

In May of 2021....to help pay for bills,I started selling my things on Bay, I had a pottery collection from the 1950's, I had a collection of Prints, I always liked retro, and vintage,,,so I began selling on Ebay, and it did help tremendously with the Bills,and it made me feel,,,that someone that collects pottery,will enjoy it, and it wont wind up in a dumpster

Now my life consisted of Chemotherapy, Catscans,Supermarket, dog walk,,,,and thanks to Ebay, trips to the post office.

I would go several times a week,I got to know the workers, And it kind of felt like I was working...and again, it helped pay the bills,and gave me a routine.

On August 13 2021,,,,Reality hit again...a huge game Changer.....I was involved in a car accident(not my Fault)....my little 2004 car was severely damaged, and then vandalized beyond repair.

I never thought,,,,I would have to ask for help, from Friends, let alone total strangers

That little car , took me to Chemo,took me to my Cat scans, dr's appts ,and the POST OFFICE to sell my belongings, to help pay the Bills....I really Tried, and with the help of Friends I managed to do it, from May 2019,,,,until now......but the loss of a car,,,,is Life changing, and due to the Pandemic, used cars are now a fortune,,,,,I tried,,,,and was to proud to ask for help sooner.....Because I used to be Like you......but Im longer that person...Im no longer just like you.Cancer and the loss of the car changed that. So im asking for any help you can offer,,,,thers no other way to put it......Im not used to asking people for help or money, so not really sure how to do it....but I do appreciate any help offered

Thank you, and stay safe, and try to live life to the fullest

Richard Catrone