Long Island man who survived pancreatic cancer raises funds for PurpleStride walk [Video]

NEW YORK (WABC) — Howard and Cathy Stein have been together for 53 years.

They met at 18 when Howard was a baseball player at the University of Rochester.

“I wasn’t really into sports and I never knew what to yell when pitching so it just came to mind, you can do it, Howie. I don’t know,” Cathy said.

After 48 years of marriage, three kids, and grandchildren their lives were nearly shattered after Howie, a 71-year-old lawyer, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“It hit me hard,” he said.

Howie found out on June 15 of last year that he was between stages 2 and 3.

The father and grandfather was diagnosed early after he noticed he was abruptly losing weight.

His cancer was treatable.

Howie endured 12 rounds of chemotherapy.

“The first five or six I was able to tolerate. The last six were brutal,” Howie said. “I was so weak. I couldn’t eat.” 13:05:12

He also underwent an 8-hour-long surgery on December …