SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Last year we told you about a young athlete from the Viborg-Hurley school district who developed cancer in one of his legs.
We have an update on Kobee Sherman, who just found out, he may soon be cancer free, but it’s going to come with a price.
There’s a sign outside the Viborg school that reads ‘Kobee Strong.’
It exemplifies the battles of one young man.
“In a two week span I was playing three games in three days at the state basketball tournament and then I was hooked up to chemo two weeks later, life kind of turned 180 real quick,” Kobee said.
Kobee Sherman found out he had cancer in his left leg in the spring of 2023.
“I mean it’s just devastating, you go into a denial right away, you know this can’t be happening,” Kobee said.
Kobee had over 9 months of chemo therapy treatments.
“Unfortunately that didn’t work, then I had my first major knee surgery, so after my first major knee surgery we tried a new chemo luckily that stopped the cancer and made it stable,” Kobee said.
The town rallied around Kobee and adopted the phrase ‘Kobee Strong.’
But it wasn’t just his hometown that came to his side. Other communities did too, like nearby Centerville.
“Obviously it’s a terrible thing he’s going through, so we just want to help out any way we can,” junior Brennan Tople said.
The Centerville students filled their gym to write Kobee a letter; this letter to show how much they were thinking about him.
They also held a fundraiser called ‘Caps for Kobee.’
Students got to wear caps to school if they donated money to Kobee’s cause.
“In these situations you wonder what can you do, your hands feel tied sometimes, this is just something that we know we can offer our help to the family and support them whether it’s a meal out or gas money or something with medical bills we are just glad we can do something,” assistant basketball coach Kory Muller said.
Kobee says he was deeply touched.
“It’s crazy ’cause I’ve always thought of Centerville as a rival and you go into games and you’re like I really want to beat Centerville, I don’t want to lose to Centerville, but they have such great people in their community and do the things that they do, so even when times are hard we are still one,” Kobee said.
During his months of chemo therapy treatments, Kobee says it got to be too hard on him, so he had to stop the treatments.
Now he just found out some other heartbreaking news.
“I have some progression back in my knee area which was initially the source of the cancer and we are going to have to do a procedure that is above knee amputation that will remove my leg which will hopefully make me more comfortable to be able to get around and get some of the cancer out of my body,” Sherman said.
Kobee says, because he’s in pain and walks with a limp, he’s ready.
“I’m looking forward to it a little bit, it stinks you’re losing a limb, it’s going to be super hard, it’ll probably be the longest journey I’ve had so far, but it’s encouraging knowing better days are ahead that I can walk and do the things that I love again,” Kobee said.
After graduating from high school, Kobee is now a student at Southeast Tech majoring in business administration.
But he’s also an assistant football coach at Viborg-Hurley.
“You know he played for me for three years,” head football coach Rob Kessler said.
Head football coach Rob Kessler speaks highly of Kobee because of his commitment and courage.
He says he hired Kobee for a number of reasons.
“You know what he’s shown over the last year and a half is how much perseverance he has and obviously that’s a good thing for young men to see,” Kessler said.
“Going through the battle that he’s going through, being able to occupy him, plus benefit from his football intelligence was a big part of it and he’s just a good young man.”
Kobee is so grateful for all the support he’s received the last year and a half and despite the long road ahead of him yet, he now wants to give back.
Kobee is organizing the Midwest Miracle Classic where eight basketball teams will play next January in order to raise money for other cancer patients and their families.
“That money is going to go straight to the families on whatever they need; if it’s hotel rooms or go somewhere else or take a vacation to get away from everything for a second I’ll be more than happy to give them the money for that, I just want to donate the money straight to the families and use it however they want to,” Kobee said.
Kobee says the Midwest Miracle Classic will be an annual event that he hopes will grow.
“I felt support not only from my community, but from surrounding communities, people from other states, it’s just been incredible so grateful for all the people who have supported me and keep supporting me and that support hasn’t stopped ever since we started,” Kobee said.
Now he’s got one more step that he hopes will end his bout with cancer once and for all.
And thankfully just like his shirt says no one fights alone.
“I got a long journey ahead, but we are fighting and believing every day,” Kobee said.
Kobee’s surgery to remove his leg is scheduled for October 28th.
