This Kentucky dad had one wish. That was to see his son’s first football game of his sophomore year.
See, Scott Sullivan was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. He knew time was ticking but instead of a whole list of things he wanted to do, all this dad wanted was to see his son play.
Scott’s cancer spreads to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. And even with treatment, he only had around 4 months tops to live. So he wanted to have one more memory.
It was in early August of 2020, after abnormal test results, that doctors diagnosed 50-year-old Scott.
Cade Sullivan was about to play the first football game of his sophomore year at Pulaski County High School. It was going to be his dad’s last attendance in support of him.
Scott’s nurse at the hospice, Jerree Humphrey, had become a good friend as they both had teenagers who played sports. And at rival schools too!
Jerree felt for Scott but she knew it was a huge risk The game was a three-and-half-hour drive away with Scott willing to drive himself all the way to Belfry. As a nurse, she knew it was a really tough call.
“I thought you know you’re talking seven or eight hours in the car and I said I don’t know how safe that would be or how realistic,” she told CNN.
Jerree understood how important it was for Scott to see Cade play. So being the genius that she was, Jerree called a nearby airport to see if there were any planes available.
Within a few days, Dr. Denny Brummett, a local dentist and pilot, found out about Scott’s ordeal and volunteered to fly Scott to the game. Amazing how selfless others can be.
Imagine how elated Scott was.
Jerree, Dr. Brummett, Scott, and his partner Kristi Harrison, flew all of 200 miles for Cade’s game. They sat on a grassy hill for safety reasons but Scott didn’t care. Best flight ever!
But the best part was yet to come. When Cade saw his dad, he ran up that hill, father and son locked in a tight embrace. It’s a moment that Cade will remember his whole life. And that’s what Scott wanted too.
“Words could not be put into sentences or phrases to describe how I felt at that time. I was just so happy to see my son.”
Scott shared.
Jerree, Krist, and Dr. Brummett were all in tears. They witnessed a moment so touching and so beautiful.
“You could just not help but cry,” Jerree said. “He just embraced him so hard and was just so thankful for him to be there.”
Scott wass tough enough to fight the cancer so he could watch Cade compete and play.
He knew he didn’t have a lot of time left, so he chose to see his son on the football field, beaming with pride at the young man who will now carry his name. And one day, Cade’s kids will ask about Scott.
Ronald Scott Sullivan passed away on October 4, 2020. He fought hard and competed until the end. One day, Cade’s going to tell them about that brave, selfless man who flew for his son.
Fly high, Scott! You are remembered and loved!
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