Former Broncos Running Back Ronnie Hillman Is in Hospice Care Following Rare Cancer Battle

21.12.2022 - 22:57 / usmagazine.com

Former football player Ronnie Hillman has entered hospice care amid his battle with a rare form of cancer.

“Though this message is difficult to share, we feel it is necessary. August of this year, Ronnie was diagnosed with Renal Medullary Carcinoma. Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC) is a rare but highly aggressive neoplasm form of cancer that primarily affects young African Americans with sickle cell trait,” Hillman’s family wrote in a Wednesday, December 21, Instagram statement regarding the 31-year-old athlete’s condition. “Unfortunately treatment has not been successful and our beloved RJ is currently under Hospice Care where he is being kept comfortable and out of pain.”

The message continued: “As a family, we hope beyond hope, and we have faith that can move mountains. We also understand that God’s will is not always ours; therefore, we as a family subject ourselves to the will of our Almigty God.  We need your prayers, but we also need your understanding and respect for Ronnie and our family’s privacy at this time.”

Hillman, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2012, was diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) earlier this year. According to the National Institute of Health, RMC is an aggressive form of non-clear cell kidney cancer that typically affects young adults and is associated with sickle cell trait.

“He’s got bad liver cancer and he’s in hospice now,” Hillman’s former teammate Derek Wolfe said on Denver’s “104.3 The Fan” on Tuesday, December 20. “It’s not looking good. He has pneumonia and I’m putting it out there just to send positive vibes his way. … Great football player, great person, great teammate, just an all around great dude.”

Brandon Stokley, for his part, added at the time: “That’s awful