Hi, family and friends. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you Billy will be passing on any day now. I'm sitting here shaking and tearing in his hospital room as I don't even know how to begin writing a message like this. Part of me wants to write just to vent and share the struggle and hardship we have been going through. And yet part of me feels ashamed as we know there are many other people in the world who are also sick and dying. But I write this at Billy's request so here it goes...

What we thought earlier this year to be simply back pain from playing golf turned into a nightmare, and the heavy blow that he has Stage 4 Lung Cancer has changed our lives. Since June he has bravely faced 4 surgeries, 9 treatments of Chemotherapy, 13 sessions of Radiation, with an average of 8 appointments per week.

Billy is fighting for his life in the hospital and maintains a positive attitude throughout the rigorous medical treatment. However, it has come to the point where the doctors have expressed that nothing further can be done for him at this time. We are doing our best to keep him comfortable, but he has more moments of pain and less times being lucid. Although none of us really know when our time is over, anyone would agree that Billy's time has been cut too short. He will pass on just a few weeks shy of seeing his 44th birthday.

During the few minutes when he is conscious, he smiles over to Madison who is sitting on the couch drawing a picture for daddy. We squeeze hands and share a quiet glance, reluctantly accepting he will be leaving me (his wife) and our beautiful, 7-year old, daughter (who of course takes after her mom), Madison. As she asks, "Is Daddy dying today?", the wave of emotions is overwhelming and all I can do is hug her and cry... This brave, intuitive kid beside me who has been silently watching the doctors and nurses help Daddy will hopefully grow stronger from this traumatic experience.

As a respiratory therapist Billy saved lives and helped bring happiness to his patients in their final days. Billy dedicated his life to helping people, and in his time of need, he hopes to receive some of what he has so generously given. He's an inspiration to everyone and his hard work ethic with genuine passion to making a difference is reflected in his thriving team. Billy is truly an amazing person at work and at home. We are so blessed to have him in our lives and know his spirit will continue on in each of us.

We are very grateful and sincerely touched by the friends and family who have shared their good wishes and prayers. During Billy's final moments, we humbly reach out for support from all of our loved ones. Billy has requested to make a gofundme to be sent to all of you to assist us with this ordeal and make sure we make it through these difficult times...

Our family thanks you in advance for your thoughtfulness and genererosity.

With love,

Billy, Abegale, and Madison