CLEVELAND — Last weekend we told you the storyof Tom Seipel, a lifelong Browns fan who is battling cancer in hospice and was surprised with an inspirational message from quarterback Baker Mayfield. On Saturday, Seipel shared an amazing update and a generous gesture from the quarterback’s wife, Emily Mayfield, as well as some fellow Browns fans.
Three years ago while working as a missionary, pastor and high school teacher in Nicaragua, Seipel learned that he had kidney cancer.
Three years later, Seipel has gone through numerous treatments and tried different medications to fight the cancer. He moved back to the United States from Nicaragua for treatment, living with his parents who had retired to Savannah, Georgia.
But two weeks ago he received some devastating news—he was being placed in hospice.
Seipel posted a goodbye to his fellow Browns fans on the online forum Reddit, which prompted an outpouring of love from fans, as well as a video of support from Baker Mayfield.
Thanks to an effort by the Dawgs of War podcast, Browns fans raised more than $10,000 for Seipel to fly with his father to Cleveland from Georgia to watch the Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers as Cleveland looks for a win to send them into the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
After securing enough money to fund the trip, the additional funds will help Seipel and his family cover his medical bills.
Seipel announced the new on his YouTube blog and had another update to the story.
Once Emily Mayfield heard that Seipel was flying out to Cleveland for the game, she reached out and offered him her suite tickets so he and his father wouldn't have to watch the game in the cold, according to the Dawgs of War podcast.
“I’m excited,” Seipel said in his blog. “This is the coolest—I know it’s just sports guys and it’s a game, right?—but I’ve lived and breathed Cleveland Browns football for so long, it’s just really cool. So thank you to all those who are making this happen, I'm lucky as heck."
"I'm going to get to see one more Browns game at least. Hopefully they win and we go to the playoffs," Seipel said. "It's going to be a heck of a game."
While doctors told Seipel he only had a couple of weeks left, he's remained strong through it all.
"I'm still fighting, man."
Read Seipel's full story here.
