Verde Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 loses his battle with disease...SO SAD. BUFFALO, N.Y. - Hunter Kelly, whose battle with a fatal nervous system disease inspired his Hall of Fame father Jim Kelly's charitable works, died Friday morning. He was 8. "Our prayers go to the family and kids," Jim Kelly's brother, Dan, told The Associated Press. Born in 1997, Hunter Kelly was given no more than three years to live after being diagnosed with Krabbe Disease, an inherited degenerative disorder of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The disease hinders development of the myelin sheath, a fatty covering that protects the brain's nerve fibers. In honor of their son, Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, established the Hunter's Hope Foundation in 1997, which has raised more than $6 million and awarded more than $3.8 million to leukodystrophy and other neurological disease-related research. The disease has no known cure. Jim Kelly, who won an unprecedented four straight AFC titles as the Bills' quarterback in the early 1990s, had credited his son for serving as his inspiration after he retired from football following the 1996 season. "He'll never be able to do what daddy did," Kelly said last year. "But he's going to do greater things. He's going to make a difference in kids' lives. He already has." Kelly and his son happened to share the same birthday, Valentine's Day. The Kelly family was preparing to issue a press release later in the day, Dan Kelly said. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050805/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_obit_hunter_kelly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 You always hate to see things like this- my sympathy goes out to the Kelly family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gg Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 that is so very sad. my thoughts go out to the family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 I hate to hear things like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dierking Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Truly a sad story. It was so ironic, the number of high profile QB's in teh 90's who had children that were stricken with one malady or another. Muy eldest son, is named after Boomer's boy-Gunnar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxJet Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinlawyer Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 May the child rest in peace. LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green DNA Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 There can't be anything worse than losing a child. I can't begin to imagine what the Kelly family is going through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormshadow19 Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 I wish nothing but the best for the Kelly family, and that Hunter rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Section317 Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Jim Kelly's remarks about son at Hall of Fame induction Friday August 05, 2005 Jim Kelly, speaking about his son, Hunter, as the former Buffalo Bills quarterback was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2002: ``Then there is my only son, Hunter, born on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, my birthday. The son I've always wanted. I've dreamt what every father dreams about, playing catch in the backyard, going fishing, camping, everything that fathers and sons do. But within four months my son was diagnosed with a fatal disease called Krabbe Leukodystrophy. They told us to take him home, and make him comfortable. And from that day, my wife and I decided to fight this disease. And so, we made it our lifelong commitment to make sure that kids all over the world don't suffer like my son does. ``Since the day I was selected, I prayed to God that my son would be here with me today. God has granted me that blessing. It has been written throughout my career that toughness is my trademark. Well, the toughest person I've ever met in my life is my hero, my soldier, my son, Hunter. I love you, buddy.'' (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 May God Bless Hunter and his entire family during this difficult time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 A definition of courage by Hunter and the whole Kelly family. They gained more then they'll ever know by his tragically short stay in their lives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirlancemehlot Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Heartbreaking. Best to the Kelly's and their loved ones. Their loss is undoubtedly a deep and life changing event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smizzy Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Awful...My heart goes out to the Kelly family... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justagame Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 I'm a Jet fan living in Bills country, so this story is getting a lot of coverage around here. As the parents of two young kids (10 and 5) my heart goes out to them. No parent wants to outlive their kids and we'd all gladly exchange our own lives for theirs, if we could. My prayers go out to them and every parent that endures similar nightmares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 Rest in peace. And may JIm Kelly and his wife have some too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackLabelJetsFan Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 My prayers go out to the family. Rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jets28 Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 Death is always tragic, but the death of a child always seems so much more tragic and numbing. My God Bless the Kelly family and give them strength and courage during their grieving. RIP little Hunter. Your soul is finally at peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaborJet Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 Rest in Peace, Hunter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSJ Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 RIP Hunter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFSIKH Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 RIP Hunter and thoughts and prayers for the Kelly family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mawaeman Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 As a father whos Daughter is Fighting her own battle against Brain cancer I can Sympathize with the Kelly family and all they are going through. My thoughts and prayers are that the Lord would grant them a special peace in their hearts that only he can give. They have shown as much courage during this difficult time in their lives as hunter has in dealing with this disease.Heaven has now another special angel to look over the Kelly family. May God Bless and give the strength that is needed at this time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verde Posted August 6, 2005 Author Share Posted August 6, 2005 As a father whos Daughter is Fighting her own battle against Brain cancer I can Sympathize with the Kelly family and all they are going through. My thoughts and prayers are that the Lord would grant them a special peace in their hearts that only he can give. They have shown as much courage during this difficult time in their lives as hunter has in dealing with this disease.Heaven has now another special angel to look over the Kelly family. May God Bless and give the strength that is needed at this time MM~ Thoughts go out to your family as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetheelz Posted August 6, 2005 Share Posted August 6, 2005 Mawaeman, I extend my thoughts and prayers to your family as well. Just because your child is not from a well known one as the Kelly's does not make it less important. God Bless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 As a father whos Daughter is Fighting her own battle against Brain cancer I can Sympathize with the Kelly family and all they are going through. My thoughts and prayers are that the Lord would grant them a special peace in their hearts that only he can give. They have shown as much courage during this difficult time in their lives as hunter has in dealing with this disease.Heaven has now another special angel to look over the Kelly family. May God Bless and give the strength that is needed at this time MM: I just saw this now. I had no idea. I will pray for your daughter. I will pray for your entire family. May God Bless you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 My wife's sister died a few years ago from cancer. She was a huge Bills fan, and had a Jim Kelly License plate. We honored her by putting the Bills logo on her tombstone and donating all donations to the Hunter Foundation. RIP little one...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickkotite Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 poor guy. i remember his speech all about the kid. kelly is a good man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted August 10, 2005 Share Posted August 10, 2005 As a relatively 'new' parent, I couldn't imagine losing a child and/or having a child facing a life threatening condition like Hunter's or MM's child. I could only hope that I would be as strong as the Kellys were and MM appears to be. MM my thoughts are with you and your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.