Zelda Von Yitz
08-07-2005, 09:38 PM
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/335060p-286252c.html
Kelly's biggest loss
Former Bills QB mourning death of son
Three years ago, this was Jim Kelly's dream weekend in Canton - the validation of his great career with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His son Hunter, then 5 and a half years old, had defied the medical odds by three years and had lived to make it to the ceremony with his father. Hunter was seated in a stroller in front of the stage with Kelly's wife, Jill.
The former Bills QB finished up his emotional acceptance speech by talking about Hunter, how like any father he dreamed of playing catch with his son in the backyard, going fishing and camping. "But within four months my son was diagnosed with a fatal disease called Krabbe leukodystrophy," Kelly said. "They told us to take him home and make him comfortable."
Hunter Kelly was born on Valentine's Day in 1997, his father's birthday. Krabbe disease is an inherited and extremely rare (one in 100,000 live births) degenerative disorder of the central and peripheral nervous systems that affects the brain.
Today, three years after his own induction, on the day Kelly's good friend Dan Marino will be inducted in Canton, Kelly is in mourning. Hunter Kelly died Friday at the age of 8 and a half of respiratory failure.
"He needed round-the-clock-care and feeding tubes. He wasn't supposed to make it past his second or third birthday. I know Hunter, from a physical standpoint, probably didn't have much of a life," Kelly's friend Boomer Esiason was saying late Friday.
"It was probably as hard an eight years as anybody can go through. The child can't talk back. Basically, he won't open his eyes. He is sedate. Jim would describe him opening his eyes and he would look at him a little bit. When he did open his eyes, you see a living, breathing person that has touched his entire family."
Kelly and Esiason and so many other quarterbacks share the bond of what Esiason says his wife Cheryl calls "the quarterback curse."
Esaison's son Gunnar was born with cystic fibrosis and is living the life of a normal 14-year old. He gets his treatments every day. Father and son are expected to be in Canton today. Former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien's son Andrew died at the age of 3 in 1998 after a year-long fight against brain cancer. Trent Dilfer's 5-year-old son, Trevin, died in 2003 of a heart infection. Doug Flutie's son, Dougie, 13, suffers from autism. Marino's 17-year son Michael has a mild case of autism. David Carr's 4-year old son Austin was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes earlier this year.
"There is a certain level of invincibility that comes with being a professional athlete," Esiason said. "But here you bring a child into the world who is suffering from something. We all know we are going to die. Having your child die at the age of 8, no matter the situation, you are never ready for it, you never prepare yourself for it. It is every parent's ultimate nightmare.
"I think Jim, Dan and myself, we attack it like a game. You game plan to raise money and put awareness out there. As Jim said, Hunter will do more good than any of his four Super Bowl appearances with his ability to bring light to this disease."
Kelly and his wife established Hunter's Hope in 1997 and have raised more than $6 million and awarded more than $3.8 million to research.
"In some respect, I'm happy for Hunter. His suffering is over," Esiason said. "It may now allow Jim and Jill some normalcy. They are still young, have a whole life in front of them. They can move on in life in memory of Hunter and still make a difference in the lives of other people. But your stomach is tied up in knots. This is very sad."
Kelly, who has two healthy daughters, said he prayed when he was selected into the Hall that his son would make it the seven months until his induction. "It has been written throughout my career that toughness is my trademark," Kelly said at the end of his speech three years ago. "Well, the toughest person I've ever met in my life is my hero, my soldier, my son, Hunter. I love you, buddy."
Kelly's biggest loss
Former Bills QB mourning death of son
Three years ago, this was Jim Kelly's dream weekend in Canton - the validation of his great career with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His son Hunter, then 5 and a half years old, had defied the medical odds by three years and had lived to make it to the ceremony with his father. Hunter was seated in a stroller in front of the stage with Kelly's wife, Jill.
The former Bills QB finished up his emotional acceptance speech by talking about Hunter, how like any father he dreamed of playing catch with his son in the backyard, going fishing and camping. "But within four months my son was diagnosed with a fatal disease called Krabbe leukodystrophy," Kelly said. "They told us to take him home and make him comfortable."
Hunter Kelly was born on Valentine's Day in 1997, his father's birthday. Krabbe disease is an inherited and extremely rare (one in 100,000 live births) degenerative disorder of the central and peripheral nervous systems that affects the brain.
Today, three years after his own induction, on the day Kelly's good friend Dan Marino will be inducted in Canton, Kelly is in mourning. Hunter Kelly died Friday at the age of 8 and a half of respiratory failure.
"He needed round-the-clock-care and feeding tubes. He wasn't supposed to make it past his second or third birthday. I know Hunter, from a physical standpoint, probably didn't have much of a life," Kelly's friend Boomer Esiason was saying late Friday.
"It was probably as hard an eight years as anybody can go through. The child can't talk back. Basically, he won't open his eyes. He is sedate. Jim would describe him opening his eyes and he would look at him a little bit. When he did open his eyes, you see a living, breathing person that has touched his entire family."
Kelly and Esiason and so many other quarterbacks share the bond of what Esiason says his wife Cheryl calls "the quarterback curse."
Esaison's son Gunnar was born with cystic fibrosis and is living the life of a normal 14-year old. He gets his treatments every day. Father and son are expected to be in Canton today. Former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien's son Andrew died at the age of 3 in 1998 after a year-long fight against brain cancer. Trent Dilfer's 5-year-old son, Trevin, died in 2003 of a heart infection. Doug Flutie's son, Dougie, 13, suffers from autism. Marino's 17-year son Michael has a mild case of autism. David Carr's 4-year old son Austin was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes earlier this year.
"There is a certain level of invincibility that comes with being a professional athlete," Esiason said. "But here you bring a child into the world who is suffering from something. We all know we are going to die. Having your child die at the age of 8, no matter the situation, you are never ready for it, you never prepare yourself for it. It is every parent's ultimate nightmare.
"I think Jim, Dan and myself, we attack it like a game. You game plan to raise money and put awareness out there. As Jim said, Hunter will do more good than any of his four Super Bowl appearances with his ability to bring light to this disease."
Kelly and his wife established Hunter's Hope in 1997 and have raised more than $6 million and awarded more than $3.8 million to research.
"In some respect, I'm happy for Hunter. His suffering is over," Esiason said. "It may now allow Jim and Jill some normalcy. They are still young, have a whole life in front of them. They can move on in life in memory of Hunter and still make a difference in the lives of other people. But your stomach is tied up in knots. This is very sad."
Kelly, who has two healthy daughters, said he prayed when he was selected into the Hall that his son would make it the seven months until his induction. "It has been written throughout my career that toughness is my trademark," Kelly said at the end of his speech three years ago. "Well, the toughest person I've ever met in my life is my hero, my soldier, my son, Hunter. I love you, buddy."