Full of Life
A native New Yorker with an accent to prove it, Billy, a self-described “people person” taught in the New York City school system his entire career. From kindergarten to 12th grade, American history to economics, Billy is a gifted speaker and a natural storyteller.
“I was the teacher that the kids loved most: I was mean but fair,” Billy said. “I taught almost every day of my life.”
During his summers, Billy ran a children’s camp in the Adirondack Mountains and, later, a hotel in the Poconos. When he retired, he and his first wife moved south to North Palm Beach, Florida, where he still resides today.
While living in Florida, Billy was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had a successful surgery that gave him a clean bill of health. He called that time in life “Camp Billy.”
“All I did was play ball,” he said. “I played softball. I refereed basketball games. I was full of life.”
But three years later, Billy found out his cancer had metastasized.
“It was hard to accept,” he said. “But the way I’ve lived my life, if there’s trouble, I figure it out.”
While Billy underwent treatment, his wife started to notice something unusual happening with her eyes. After being evaluated by specialists, she was diagnosed with large-cell lymphoma. Billy cared for her for a year until she passed away.
“It was a tough year,” Billy said.
But Billy credits the excellent care he’s received, and his treatment, for keeping him healthy through the worst days.
“The thing that’s most important to me is the treatment,” he said. “It is working incredibly well to keep my bones strong.”
To afford his critical treatment, Billy’s oncologists told him about The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Prostate Cancer Copay Assistance Program. The program provides financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for all FDA-approved treatment for prostate cancer, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
“The best thing about it is that TAF pays the copay on it,” he said. “It’s wonderful to know there’s somebody out there. It’s the most wonderful thing in the world.”
Ever a New Yorker, Billy believes in a “two-minute” rule when it comes to talking about his disease: You have two minutes to talk about what’s wrong and then must stop.
“Because all of us could talk forever about what’s wrong with us,” he said. “I’d rather talk about the Yankees.”
One evening after having a hip replaced, Billy was walking on the beach by his condo and exchanged smiles with a woman he passed. He saw her again two nights later and they started talking. Talking turned into love.
“I gave her a sheet of paper with seven reasons why she shouldn’t marry me,” Billy said. “We’ve been the happiest married couple ever since.”
Billy continues to do well with his treatment and says he is grateful for TAF’s assistance.
He gets up each morning, looks out the window over the ocean, and is ready for whatever comes next.
“I don’t know where I’m going to be tomorrow, but I’m going to enjoy today as much as I can,” Billy said.
