Published: January 13, 2009 02:38 pm         

PS firemen helping one of their own

One local fireman will be fighting more than fires in the near future.

He has just learned he has been diagnosed with cancer.

Payne Springs fireman Sean Kelsay, 41, stood in front of all his co-workers/friends at an executive board meeting Jan. 8 and told them all the news.

“We are totally, totally devastated,” Kay Hardee, Payne Springs Fire Department Secretary.

Kelsay is a Certified Coordinator for both Log Cabin and Payne Springs Volunteer Fire Departments.

According to Hardee, Kelsay had gone to ETMC in Gun Barrel and was diagnosed with bronchitis, but was told later at the Trinity Mother Francis in Tyler that it was lung cancer.

Kelsay is a husband and the father of two children, one in college and the other two-years-old.

He is a contractor and does independent remodeling, but he will be out of work for a while for treatment.

His wife Ashley, is an associate of Wal-Mart and will need time off from her job to carry him to chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Payne Springs Volunteer Fire Department is holding a garage and bake sale at the fire house in Payne Springs, to help the Kelsay family with funding.

One-hundred percent of all donations will go directly to the support of a man whose job is to give to the community.

“He told us he was gonna fight,” said Hardee, “But how much can he fight?”

Doctors are not entirely sure what might have caused his cancer, but Kelsay has a family history of cancer.

For now, a savings account is unavailable to open for Kelsay until he applies for disability and is approved, but if you can help out in any way, call the Payne Springs Fire Department at (903) 451-4511.

     

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