RIP Hunter (Jim Kelly's son)

[Brian in Mesa]

Jim Kelly's 8-Year-Old Son Hunter Dies
By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer

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.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

 

[Jttsaz]

Very sad...what a brave little boy he was. My deepest sympathy to the Kelly family.

 

[Pariah]

Kelly and his son happened to share the same birthday, Valentine's Day.

That's gotta make that day rough...a day that should be about celebration.

RIP Hunter.

 

[seesred]

We always think that our problems are so big and then reality hits. God bless all the children.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Jim Kelly's 8-Year-Old Son Hunter Dies
By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer

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.

God Bless his little soul. Poor guy

As for the Kelly family, I have so much respect for all of them having the courage to go through this 8 year battle, watching their son grow with this un-curable disease. They truly are classy people and will be in my prayers.

 

[bratwurst]

I've lost a child - my heart goes out to them. Its something I don't know how I made it through sometimes. I hope that all the good that came from his life and all the time they spent together helps ease the pain even if just a little.

 

[arthurracoon]

sad day

what a tough kid - living 5 years past his diagnosis

I was a huge bills fan until I became a cards fan, and it was awesome that Hunter was able to speak at his dads HOF induction.

 

[jf-08]

God Bless his little soul. Poor guy

As for the Kelly family, I have so much respect for all of them having the courage to go through this 8 year battle, watching their son grow with this un-curable disease. They truly are classy people and will be in my prayers.

Well stated.

 

[phillycard]

God bless his family. Boomer Esiason's son is ill too right? Does he have the same disease that Kelly's son had?

 

[BigDavis75]

I can't stand it when stuff like this happens, Jim Kelly is a great guy.

 

[PACardsFan]

I have a 7 yr old son with CP & other neurological issues, so this is painful news. His acceptance speech to the HOF left me sobbing. My sincerest condolences go out to the entire Kelly family. Hunter may not have been perfect in this world, but now that he has been called home, he is royalty in the eyes of God. As heartbroken as the Kelly's are, I'm sure they can take solace in that.

 

[arthurracoon]

I have a 7 yr old son with CP & other neurological issues, so this is painful news. His acceptance speech to the HOF left me sobbing. My sincerest condolences go out to the entire Kelly family. Hunter may not have been perfect in this world, but now that he has been called home, he is royalty in the eyes of God. As heartbroken as the Kelly's are, I'm sure they can take solace in that.

best wishes for your son and family

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Boomer Esiason's son is ill too right? Does he have the same disease that Kelly's son had?

Gunnar Esiason has cystic fibrosis.

Gunnar Esiason is now 14 and will enter the ninth grade this fall. He's active, playing lacrosse, ice hockey and golf, despite living with a disease that inflicts its patients with chronic illness, a congestive respiratory system and difficulties with digestion. As persons with CF grow older they can also have troubles reproducing.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I've lost a child - my heart goes out to them.

I have a 7 yr old son with CP & other neurological issues, so this is painful news.

First and foremost, my prayers go out to both of you. Being a father myself, I could never go through the emotional pain of having something happen to my child. It would absolutely devastate me, hell even thinking about it makes me want to cry.. So I have a huge amount of respect for both of you for having the strength to battle this. PACardsFan, I'll pray for your son and Brat, I pray that the impact your child made on this earth, for however long they lived to make one, forever lives.

Sorry Mods, or any non-religious people who I may have offended by saying this.

[QUOTE}His acceptance speech to the HOF left me sobbing. My sincerest condolences go out to the entire Kelly family. Hunter may not have been perfect in this world, but now that he has been called home, he is royalty in the eyes of God. As heartbroken as the Kelly's are, I'm sure they can take solace in that.[/QUOTE]

You know, it's funny you bring this up.. I always respected Jim Kelly as a QB, but as a person I never knew how true and genuine of a human being he was. When being accepted in to the Hall, and when he dedicated it and his career to his son, he moved past the label of "Hall of Fame Player". He moved in to a class of itself, a Hall of Fame person. That means more than any plaque or any enshrinement ceremony.

 

[arthurracoon]

He moved in to a class of itself, a Hall of Fame person. That means more than any plaque or any enshrinement ceremony.

 

[thirty-two]

Wow what sad news

Rest in peace, lil fella.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

What a warrior the kid was. Just like his tough as nails daddy.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Quarterback Jim Kelly's son buried

By CAROLYN THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer
August 9, 2005

HAMBURG, N.Y. (AP) -- Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife buried their 8-year-old son Tuesday with a promise to continue their fight against the disease that claimed his life.

Hunter James Kelly died Friday following a lifelong struggle with Krabbe disease, an inherited nervous system disorder that claims most of its victims in their first two years of life.

``We will not give up, back down or surrender until we have helped every family,'' Jill Kelly said in a recorded message that played as family photographs flashed above a small green casket flanked by two stuffed giraffes.

The Kellys, who didn't speak at the service, have publicly shared their private struggles with Hunter to raise awareness of the disease and research funds. They invited the public to Hunter's funeral, which they called a celebration of his life.

The couple sat at the front of the Wesleyan Church in this Buffalo suburb with daughters Erin, 10, and Camryn, 6, while more than 1,000 people packed the sanctuary. Among those attending the service were Kelly's former Buffalo Bills teammates Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Darryl Talley, Frank Reich, Steve Tasker and former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason.

``I'm here for Hunter, I'm here for the Kelly family. There's no way I would miss this,'' Thomas said.

Thomas, who played in four straight Super Bowls with Kelly, recalled how the quarterback called him with news of Hunter's birth. He said his fondest memory was seeing Hunter, wearing his father's No. 12, watching from his wheelchair as Kelly's jersey was placed on the Buffalo Bills' Wall of Fame.

Hunter could barely move his head but communicated by blinking his eyes. He underwent hours of physical, speech and breathing therapy and was home-schooled.

Jim Kelly lobbied the state to broaden its newborn screening program, a cause that also took him to Washington on behalf of improved nationwide testing.

The Hunter's Hope foundation established by the Kellys in 1997 has awarded more than $3.8 million to neurological disease-related research. Last year, the foundation and the University at Buffalo announced the establishment of the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute.