Hunter with his parents
(AP Photo)Three years ago, I watched Jim Kelly as he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. During his long career with the Buffalo Bills he had earned a well-deserved reputation for toughness. But during his acceptance speech, he praised his son Hunter (then 5 years old) as being the toughest person he knew. You see, in 1997, when he was just four months old, Hunter Kelly was diagnosed with Krabbe Disease. There is no known cure. Although doctors gave Hunter no more than three years to live, Hunter sat with his family five years later while his father tearfully praised him in front of a national television audience...
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.
This past Friday, Hunter Kelly finally succumbed to his illness -- a full five years longer than anyone expected. To date, he is the longest living survivor of the disease.
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