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As one of the most prolific pitchers in recent memory, former Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling loves being around the game of baseball. In fact, he loves the game so much that he has become an MLB analyst for ESPN. However, the former star will need to take some time away from the game for a while and get himself healthier as he has just been diagnosed with cancer.
This isn’t Schilling’s first run in with health problems as he suffered a heart attack in 2011 and his wife, Shonda Schilling, battled cancer and beat it in 2001. Schilling is hoping that he can have the same success his wife had with the awful disease.
Schilling recently released a statement regarding his diagnosis and the road ahead:
“Shonda and I want to send a sincere thank you and our appreciation to those who have called and sent prayers, and we ask that if you are so inclined, to keep the Schilling family in your prayers. My father left me with a saying that I’ve carried my entire life and tried to pass on to our kids: ‘Tough times don’t last, tough people do.’
Over the years in Boston, the kids at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have shown us what that means. With my incredibly talented medical team I’m ready to try and win another big game.
I’ve been so very blessed and I feel grateful for what God has allowed my family to have and experience, and I’ll embrace this fight just like the rest of them, with resolute faith and head on.”
It’s never easy to see anyone have to battle such a debilitating disease like cancer and it will be that much sweeter when the former world champion defeats it.
Let’s hope he has the same fight off the field as he had on it. Our wishes go out to Curt and his family for a safe recovery.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
