New York Assemblywoman Pat Fahy announced her son, 25, died from a rare cancer after battling the disease for 20 months.
Manhattan-based photographer and cinematographer, Brendan Fahy Bequette, was diagnosed with a mediastinal choriocarcinoma tumor in June 2020.
He underwent multiple surgeries and treatments, including stem cell transplants, but sadly on February 28, this year, he lost his battle with the disease.
Bequette ‘was the light of our lives and we will miss him for the rest of our lives,’ the assemblywoman wrote on Twitter.
New York Assemblywoman Pat Fahy’s son Brendan Fahy Bequette, 25, (pictured) died on February 28 after suffering from a mediastinal choriocarcinoma tumor, which he was diagnosed with on his 24th birthday
He announced in December 2020 that he would have to undergo an ‘extensive surgery to remove the mediastinal mass’ and was undergoing stem cell transplants
Fahy posted old photos of Beguette (far left) and the family when she announced his death
Many politicians and family friends posted their condolences on Fahy’s posts.
‘Pat- your love for Brendan was so obviously effusive every time we spoke. Words cannot even begin to express how heartbroken I am for you,’ James Skoufis, a New York Senator wrote.
‘Truly sorry to hear this. Sending my deepest condolences to your family,’ Gothamist journalist Jon Campbell wrote.
Former New York representative Aravella Simotas wrote: ‘Pat, wishing you and your family peace, comfort, and courage during this time of great sorrow. I am truly heartbroken for your loss but know that Brendan’s beautiful soul will always live in your heart. May his memory be eternal.’
Publisher of Adirondack Explorer Tracy Ormsbee wrote: ‘I’m so very sorry for your loss. We were fortunate to have the chance to know Brendan as a bright intern at the Times Union doing what he loved.’
New York State Senator Julia Salazar wrote: ‘I am deeply sorry to hear this, Pat. Brendan was clearly a brilliant and talented and beloved person. I hope you and your family are surrounded by love and support.’
Bequette’ worked as a camera operator for the US Open and the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2019, interned at the Albany Times Union during his college days, and did a photoshoot with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown in his short career, also in 2019.
The assemblywoman announced on Tuesday that her son lost his 20-month battle with cancer
The family (L-R: Wayne, Eileen, Pat, and Brenden) said they were grateful for all the support
Fahy said he ‘was the light of our lives and we will miss him for the rest of our lives’
He shared on his Facebook page in December 2020 that the disease only affects around 500 people per year
He was diagnosed with the disease in June 2020 and he found out in December 2020 that the cancer had spread to his brain
Bequette’s wake and funeral will be held at St. Vincent De Paul in Albany on Friday from 3pm to 4pm, with the burial to follow on Saturday.
The 25-year-old revealed he was battling cancer in December 2020.
‘I have a large primary tumor in my mediastinum (chest), as well as nodules dotted around my lungs,’ he wrote on Facebook. ‘I was lucky that I was able to start chemotherapy within a week of my diagnosis and the four cycles of chemo I did initially proved to be successful.’
He announced at the time that he would have to undergo an ‘extensive surgery to remove the mediastinal mass’ and was undergoing stem cell transplants.
‘It was discovered that quite a few lesions had spread into my brain,’ he wrote at the time. ‘Many doctors have said that I was lucky to catch this disease as early as I did and although there’s no concrete evidence about what caused the pain to put me in the emergency room, I think it was my on-again-off-again relationship with running. Just before my diagnosis, I was running up to six miles a day and I believe that aggravated my lung enough to cause the pain.’
He was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City.
Many politicians and family friends posted their condolences on Fahy’s tweet
