Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is said to be weak and “in bad shape” as he prepares to undergo surgery in New York City for his oral cancer recurrence, a local CBS affiliate reported.
The 54-year-old former Buffalo Bills star found out two weeks ago that the cancer had returned and has been in and out of hospitals for the past 10 days. He is scheduled to have surgery Thursday at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan because doctors wanted to see him immediately, the station reported.
Mr. Kelly’s wife, Jill, wrote on her blog that “the cancer’s back, aggressive, and starting to spread.”
On Sunday, she posted a photo of the family in the hospital watching a prayer service held by their local Buffalo church.
She said she was “overwhelmed and humbled to watch Pastor Jerry and our congregation family kneel in prayer for our family…to be prayed for by name. We were on our knees too and our nurse asked if she could join us in prayer…and she did.”
His daughter, Erin, shared photos of her father on Instagram over the weekend.
“Watching the Syracuse game with daddy - he’s my buddy! Love him so much!! #daddysgirl #prayersforjk #Kellytough,” she wrote on Saturday.
On Sunday, she posted a photo of the two walking down a hospital corridor.
“So thankful that he was up for a little walk today!! God is good!!!! And He HEALS!!!! #prayersforjk #Kellytough #daddysgirl,” she posted.
Dennis DiPaolo, a close friend of the Kelly family, said Mr. Kelly is in a lot of pain but still in high spirits.
“He’s like come on, don’t hang your heads,” Mr. DiPaolo told the station. “Like you walk in the room and he’s in a huddle and still commanding everyone and even if he’s trying to rest his eyes, he knows you’re there and he goes, ’Thanks for coming guys.’ He’s just a remarkable individual.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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