CAMRY DEAN
Staff Writer
Sitting across from McEwen Hall custodian Randy Goodemote is like sitting across from a rock star.
On Dec. 30 of last year, Goodemote received, what should’ve been, the worst news of his life.
Except, it wasn’t.
Before Thanksgiving last year, Goodemote started having trouble eating. He received test results that repeatedly came back negative. But after seeing the doctor on Christmas Eve and being sent home after the doctor said everything looked O.K., he was rushed to Erie Community Hospital in Buffalo three days after Christmas.
After a few days’ stay, Goodemote was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer on his 61st birthday.
CAT scans showed that there was a tumor going across the bottom of the esophagus, and a PET scan, which illuminated cancerous areas, showed his adrenal gland was glowing.
“If I could eat, I wouldn’t even know I have cancer. That’s how great I feel,” he said. “When I found out about it, I never felt sorry for myself. I didn’t cry about it. I accepted it. Whatever happens, happens. I’m upbeat. I’m going to fight it until the end.”
So he is.
The first time he received chemotherapy, he received four rounds, once every two weeks.
During this first round, he was required to wear a pack on his hip which administered additional chemo, but that didn’t stop him from attending a rock concert in Toronto.
“People worried about me when I went to Toronto, but it was three great days,” he said. “I came back here, and Mary [Erick] and I went and saw Brit Floyd, a tribute band on a Tuesday, and on Thursday, I went with my brother to a Buffalo Bison’s home-opener. On Saturday, we all went to the Buffalo Bandits game. Like I said, I’m not giving up on this.”
CAT scans after his initial diagnosis showed that the tumor was still growing and covering the adrenal gland, and his doctors at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo decided on a different form of chemotherapy.
This second chemo is a more aggressive form that, hopefully, will pinpoint the tumor and start to shrink it. Despite the more intense treatment, he still won’t slow down.
“Right now, I’m just doing everything I can. I have six concerts coming up before the beginning of June,” he said.
Goodemote explained that he’s been doing everything from concerts to sporting events to attending the Queen City Roller Girls derby matches in Buffalo.
The only thing that seems to bother him is the leave of absence he’s had to take from his motorcycle, but he’s hopeful he’ll be able to ride again by June.
Goodemote has worked at Fredonia for almost 16 years and has been on a leave of absence since the end of January.
“Everybody has been great to me over the years. They all know me. That’s all I care about,” said Goodemote.
“What makes it easy to come to work is to be around all of the students and the faculty. They appreciate everything we do for them where others don’t,” he said. “I go up in the radio station, and they love me up there. They accepted me as their family. I love to bake, and I bake for those guys. Any time anyone’s collecting money for something, I donate here and there.”
On May 22, a benefit for Goodemote will be held at the Sheridan Veterans of Foreign Wars. The benefit is being organized by his sister Peggy Goodemote, his best friend and girlfriend Mary Erick and her sister Anne Haase. The trio has been putting up posters, selling tickets to the spaghetti dinner, setting up donations and more importantly, working as a support system.
Goodemote had nothing but great things to say about all of the support he’s been given.
“Mary’s been with me through this whole thing, and everything she’s done for me, I really appreciate,” he said. “She’s been there for everything.”
He also expressed his gratitude for all of the students and faculty and made sure to invite everyone to his benefit.
There is currently a fund set up in his name for donations at the credit union on the first floor of the Williams Center.
“I’ve never asked for anything in my life, but if you can, donate, and if anyone wants to volunteer, we’d appreciate it,” he said.
“I don’t see it beating me. No way,” he said. “I’m upbeat. I’m hopeful. It is what it is. I’m still rocking.”