At this point in October, it can be distracting and sobering to be reminded of “real life”, work, people who aren’t players on your team – anything, really, that gets in the way of wanting to focus on that first pull of Nationals.

Nevertheless, that stuff remains out there.

Mike Sweeney, a former Chain (circa ~2002-04, and in blue in the above picture) and UGA (circa ~1997-99) player, has been battling cancer over the last year. He has stage IV metastatic melanoma – serious business. One of the treatments that may still be able to help Mike in his fight is adoptive T-Cell therapy (or TIL). Quoting a website update from the Sweeneys, “Since high-dose IL-2 and Biochemotherapy didn’t result in complete remission, TIL therapy is the only treatment left that offers a curative response. All other treatments, including chemos and radiation, are considered maintenance drugs for stage IV melanoma.”

The treatment is considered an experimental approach (and thus beyond insurance coverage), though, so friends of the Sweeneys have set out to raise money toward the $200K pricetag. Details about giving, and about how Mike and Cabell are doing in general, are expressed in the links below:

http://www.support4sweeney.blogspot.com/
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikesweeney/journal

As of last week, $126,000 had already been raised. If you know Sweeney, you won’t be surprised that his need could elicit such an outpouring. He is one of most loved and loving people I’ve ever known – and he still has 2 or 3 of the best 10 catches I’ve ever seen.

Even if you don’t know Mike, the links are well worth reading for inspiration from the grace he and his wife are displaying in the face of this challenge.

-Rob Barrett