Jim Donovan delivered the difficult and disappointing news to his television audience Wednesday night: His leukemia is back.
Donovan, longtime sports anchor at WKYC Channel 3 and radio play-by-play voice of the Browns, had a bone marrow transplant more than 11 years ago and had been in remission. He announced Wednesday he noticed something was wrong 18 months ago, tests confirmed a relapse and he underwent oral and intravenous chemotherapy treatments that had worked “pretty well.”
“But things change and things have changed for me in my case,” he said. “And so we’re going to have to go with a different treatment plan, a more aggressive treatment plan, which has already started.”
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Short hair has replaced his typical thick locks.
“That’s the badge of honor that you get in chemotherapy, you begin to lose your hair,” he said. “So I’m underway with that. This is going to be kind of a long and winding road through this treatment plan because it is going to be pretty aggressive, but the goal is gotta get better, gotta get healthy, gotta move on. I know the deal. I’ve done it before and I plan to do it once again.”
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Donovan, 66, lives in Hinckley, is beloved by many Cleveland sports fans and has become synonymous with the Browns, calling their games since the franchise returned in 1999.
“Our thoughts and the thoughts of the entire organization are with Jim and his family right now in this difficult time,” owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “There is no better representative of the Cleveland Browns. He is as tough as they come and proved as much in his previous battle. We’re all behind Jim and will do everything we can to support him.
“We look forward to him winning this fight, being around the team and continuing to call our games during the season.”
With you every step of the way. pic.twitter.com/EDifTMrAr5
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 31, 2023
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“Praying for you and your family Jim!” quarterback Deshaun Watson tweeted. “We are right here with you!”
Donovan thanked Channel 3, the Browns and his wife, Cheryl, and daughter, Meghan, for their support.
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“We were knocked for a little bit of a loop when we got the news about this, but we’ve kind of steadied ourself and we’re ready to go once again, ready for the fight,” he said. “I have total confidence in the medical professionals who are handling my case. They have done an amazing job for many, many years treating me and I am ready to put my case in their hands once again, and I know they’re going to do an amazing job for me.”
He said he’ll work as much as he can, depending on how he reacts to the treatment plan.
“But right now, duty calls and the duty is I have to get better,” he said. “I plan on getting better, and I think that everything right now is pointing in a positive way.”
