East Jessamine coach battles cancer, brings joy

[ScarHeel]

http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/661929.html

 

For East Jessamine Coach Ralph Sallee and his girls' basketball team, this season has been more a journey of faith and inspiration than a trail of victories and defeats.

 

It has been a winter of life's starkest lesson — how to face mortality — set against the backdrop of fun and games and youthful exuberance.

 

Sallee has provided a shining example.

 

Ten months after he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and told he had nine months to live, after countless chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Sallee battles on, coaching and preaching, and appreciating each breath he takes.

 

"Some people with (terminal) cancer deal with it so differently than we have," he said. "Some people hibernate and seek quiet solitude.

 

"My family and I have chosen to try to keep living."

[Mr. Athletics]

Best wishes to the coach and his family.

[JPP]

This story is especially touching since we laid the father of one of our boys in the ground due to cancer today. He had a great attitude through the end! Thanks ScarHeel for posting this and your timing, we needed that!

[ScarHeel]

This story is especially touching since we laid the father of one of our boys in the ground due to cancer today. He had a great attitude through the end! Thanks ScarHeel for posting this and your timing, we needed that!

 

I'm sorry for you're loss but you are very welcome.

[JPP]

I just hope some of the players see this and it touches them like it did me!

[rebel man]

I got to know coach long ago thru softball. He is a great man. Great story and testament for all of us.

[eccheer]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the East Jessamine coach's family and friends. I hope the players can come together and make this season a memorable one in his honor.

[Mom55]

What a wonderful man, his school and his church family are very lucky they have a wonderful man that is working with our young people today, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone connected to this man.

[The Scribe]

Ralph Sallee passed away Friday.

 

LINK

[JPP]

Hate to hear this. Our thoughts are with his family. His story was an inspiration!

[eccheer]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends in their time of sorrow.

[hoopsr1]

A fantastic person who happened to Coach and Preach. We should all live as Ralph did. He was an example in everything he did. He will be sorely missed by many people and my prayers go out to his family.

[Chosen_One]

He was one of the nicest men I had ever met. He brought joy to everyone he talked to. He will never be forgotten!

[warrior_69]

Thoughts and prayers from Southwestern.