Samantha Chaffin
Editor-in-Chief
Early last week I received word that Idaho State University student Josh Kelly experienced a severe seizure and was on life support at Portneuf Medical Center.
I was told he was showing no brain activity and would likely be taken off life support as soon as the next day.
Kelly passed away on Thursday, Feb. 13.
A little less than a year ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Kelly and his service dog, Cletis, for an article I was working on for “The Bengal.”
The article I wrote featured Kelly and Cletis after Cletis suffered a herniated disc that paralyzed him and required an expensive surgery.
I recall interviewing Kelly and discussing breed discrimination and the positive reactions he had received about Cletis, a pit bull Kelly trained by himself to act as his service dog.
We also talked about the common courtesy of asking prior to reaching out to pet a service dog and the positive words he had to say about Disabilities Services and the help they provided him.
Throughout the interview, Kelly was pleasant and smiling, even in the face of trouble, as he and Cletis dealt with such a tough time in their lives.
A year ago I never would have imagined that Kelly would be gone so soon. I also had no idea that I would be so affected by his passing.
Upon hearing the news, I was unsure how to react. Though I didn’t know Kelly well, I was filled with sadness and a deep sense of loss.
I knew the world had lost someone great.
Though my personal encounters with Kelly were limited to our interview and several brief conversations on campus, those encounters impacted me greatly.
Throughout my time at “The Bengal,” I’ve had the opportunity to interview countless people and hear their stories.
Kelly’s story was one that touched me more than most.
Talking with Kelly, you would have never known he suffered from epilepsy.
He was one of the most upbeat, down-to-earth, hard-working and optimistic people I had the opportunity to interview. His passion for life and learning was contagious, and I am so thankful to have had the chance to get to know him.
Kelly’s passing has reminded me that it is important to cherish the time we have with those around us, as we really never know how long we have with those we love.
It is true that even the smallest of encounters can impact someone greatly, as I learned through this experience. For that I am grateful.
My thoughts and condolences go out to the friends and family of Kelly, as well as everyone else whose life he touched.
