Brian Barczyk.Photo:Brian
Brian
A man known for his love of reptiles and wildlife recently posted an emotional video to his “Reptile Army” to say he was entering hospice care.
“This last year has been difficult with my cancer and with the ups and downs of treatment and feeling sick,” said Barczyk, who wasdiagnosed with pancreatic cancerlast March. “Unfortunately, you guys are not going to see me in the future because tomorrow, I go into hospice, which means I don’t have long to go after that."
He went on to say that he wanted to be present for the opening of the LegaSea Aquarium, which is slated to open early this year, but that no longer seemed possible. “I’m not going to even be there to see it done now,” he said.
Brian Barczyk.Jay Tomsky
Jay Tomsky
But he told his followers, “don’t worry about me.”
“When I’m gone, I’m going to spend eternity in heaven to be able to look down on the [LegaSea] and I’m going to be able to look down on my family and everyone who I love,” he added. “I’m the lucky one.”
“This one hurts, been watching Brian since I was like 10 and I’m 24 now,” added another. “Seeing his love and passion for animals was refreshing. I’m glad he became as successful as he did doing what he loved. Such a genuine and loving human being. Definitely a legend in the animal world.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Barczyk has over 5 million subscribers on YouTube and decades of experience “breeding and working with over 30,000 snakes,” according to aDiscovery Channelpress description for the seriesVenom Hunters,which he appeared in.
He’s also the owner of The Reptarium, which opened in 2018 and houses such creatures as snakes, lizards, alligators, and tortoises.
“Diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer less than a year ago, he has bravely shared his daily battle on his YouTube vlog, drawing his audience into not just his struggles, but also his unyielding passion for wildlife,” they wrote.
In a Facebook post, the reptile zoo shared that it’s been Barczyk’s “dream” to open the LegaSea aquarium. The ambitious project will be a 30,000-square-foot interactive indoor aquarium and zoo that is slated to open sometime in the early part of this year, according to The Reptarium. The new facility will also feature a special reminder of Barczyk: his handprints as a “poignant tribute inviting visitors to connect with his enduring mission.”
“Thanks to Brian’s resilience and dedication, we arenow just around two months awayfrom the grand opening of this visionary project,” they wrote over the weekend. “Brian’s journey has been one of courage and inspiration, and his dream of the LegaSea Aquarium stands as a testament to his passion and perseverance.
“Thank you for sharing your passion and dream with all of us Brian. You are a true inspiration,” one fan wrote in response to the reptile zoo’s Jan. 6 Facebook update about Barczyk, while another shared that they hoped he would still be able to “be there on the grand opening of the legacy.”
As his video came to a close, Barczyk reflected on his legacy, saying that he hoped he “inspired you guys.”
“Cancer won’t have me anymore,” he remarked. “It wasn’t because I gave up. I didn’t give up. I was just ready…But my battle is over and in the next few days I’ll be free of pain, I’ll be free of cancer, and I’ll be happy and I’ll be in the most blissful place you can ever imagine.”
source: people.com
