Brian Barczyk

WebSlave

WebSlave

Just treading water.......
Staff member
Staff
Endowment
Resident Demon
Joined
Feb 3, 2002
Messages
20,153
Reaction score
801
Points
113
Location
Crawfordville, FL
A friend of mine from Tennessee stopped in the other day and we were talking about people we know in the reptile industry. When I asked about Brian Barczyk, he told me that Brian has pancreatic cancer. I was shocked. Been out of the loop myself for quite a while, so I haven't really been following any news about much of anything.

Pancreatic cancer has a very low survival rate, from what I understand. I went to YouTube and watched some of the later videos Brian had posted, and some were extremely heart breaking. I tried reaching out to Brian, but haven't received any responses. I guess a lot of people are doing that, and I imagine this is damn overwhelming to him. So doesn't surprise me much not to hear from him. Used to do a bit of business with him back in the SerpenCo days.

The world seems to REALLY suck lately........................
 
I'm sorry, I thought you knew. Obviously you had more important things on your plate.
 
Yeah, well, at least I don't have to tell Connie about it. She liked Brian too. It would have been a burden I would just as soon not have to put on her mind. She always had such empathy for other people.
 
He just went into surgery this week to remove blood clots. He looks a little better than he did earlier this year. It is such something very hard to deal with.
 
Blood clots are apparently not unusual when chemo drugs are involved. What makes them immediately dangerous is when they migrate to the lungs or the brain.

Connie had one in one of her legs after she had her initial surgery, but it was small and not considered as life threatening, so she was put on a blood thinner (Eliquis) to deal with it. She stayed on that blood thinner for the entire time while on chemo.

Must be some serious blood clots in Brian to have them surgically removed.

I really feel for the guy and everyone around him. As someone told me when Connie was first diagnosed, "Get ready for both of you to go through Hell." Man, he wasn't joking.........

Just today I took down the quite long "garland" that Connie had made from all of her medical ID bands she had accumulated while fighting her cancer. And that didn't even include the ones she got at her first cancer treatment center. I didn't know what to do with it, so I just wrapped it around the container with her cremains in it.
 
I just saw today on Facebook that he had multiple strokes today and was in the hospital.
 
Last edited:
Damn. I didn't like the sound of him having surgery for blood clots.

2023 is going to be a crappy year to the very end, isn't it?
 
Heart breaking........ Doesn't look good for him. He likely has more clots developing in his body from the cancer.

I sure got my fill of seeing Connie with the oxygen tube in the nostrils over the past few months before she passed. Really wish I would never have to see another person have to have one of those to help them keep breathing. :(

As for this being a "happy" New Year, well, so far it really isn't........
 
This was posted a couple hours ago. Brian is under hospice care now. He pre-recorded most of this, knowing his health was declining.

I met him once; I had gone to pick up a carpet python I bought from him. I opened the bag to check it out, and it promptly clamped onto my hand! Everyone was just standing around, so Brian went and got me some paper towels. He was trying not to laugh, but then I started laughing, so we joked about carpets for a couple minutes. Nice guy. It's so sad that he won't see the opening of the Legasea Aquarium.

https://youtu.be/xwQYlNbfHRY?si=XzF29R0fOtQyAUsu
 
That was an extremely sad video to watch. :crap:
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20240115_184046_YouTube.jpg
    Screenshot_20240115_184046_YouTube.jpg
    326.9 KB · Views: 127
On behalf of the Barczyk family and our entire team at The Reptarium, it is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Brian Barczyk.

More than the guiding light of our organization, Brian's fervent passion for reptiles and wildlife, along with his steadfast dedication to education, has touched innumerable hearts and minds globally.

Our deepest sympathies are with Brian's family, his friends, and all those whose lives he has touched. We've lost an exceptional individual – a visionary, mentor, and friend. For those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him, Brian's absence leaves an immeasurable void.
As we navigate this difficult time, we find comfort in the memories and the lasting light of Brian's work. He will be deeply missed but indeed, never forgotten.

The Barczyk family invites you to join us for a Public Memorial Walk-through to honor Brian’s memory. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Heritage Church, located at 44625 Schoenherr Rd. Sterling Heights, MI 48313 from 1-3pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to show your support by visiting https://thereptarium.com/pages/brianbarczyk . Your engagement and involvement are greatly valued during this time.

Also, at LegaSea's opening, visitors will find Brian's handprints. Guests place their hands in his, continuing his legacy in a simple, yet powerful gesture. Please continue to follow this page for updates.

Brian, we will see you in the next one. Everyone else, see you at LegaSea.

- The Reptarium Team.

Contact Information for Inquiries and Tributes:

For media inquiries, please contact our Marketing Director at [email protected]

and

For more information on how you can become a LegaSea sponsor, please email our Director of Community Relations at [email protected] for other questions, please email [email protected]
 
Damn. I was afraid this was coming soon............................ :(
 
I would like to go, but besides having my own recent situation to deal with, if those cold temps up there hit me, I might be in the express lane to the pearly gates too.
 
WebSlave said:
I would like to go, but besides having my own recent situation to deal with, if those cold temps up there hit me, I might be in the express lane to the pearly gates too.
Click to expand...

You have quite enough to deal with, and it's bitter cold here.
I'm not going to make it to the memorial either ☹️.

My husband has been feeling like crap for several
days, so he went to urgent care last night. He has RSV, and as it turns out, I do too. I started feeling like I was coming down with something, so I went today, and tested positive.

It's very contagious, so I could never risk spreading it to other people.

I'm sure there will be photos/video posted. The local TV stations ran stories about Brian, so they may be there too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top