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Shelley Osterloh reporting One of the State's top law enforcement officials is battling an new enemy: cancer. And he is getting a lot of help and support from fellow officers, friends and even strangers.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the county council declared this day Jade Pusey Day in Salt Lake. It is one more way of showing support, and trying to raise money for Jade Pusey, a public servant who for the first time in his life, is in need of the help of others.
Jade Pusey is a former Salt Lake County Sheriff's Deputy who more recently worked as a lead investigator at the Attorney General's office. He has a rare form of cancer, and just months ago had dozens of tumors removed from his abdomen, one the size of cantaloupe .
In fact, this past February when Pusey announced a major bust against a violent organized identify theft ring, he had rescheduled a catscan to find out why he was having severe abdominal pain. Doctors told the 30 year old man and father of a baby boy he had an aggressive ,deadly form of cancer.
Jade Pusey: " BEST CASE SCENARIO IS TEN YEARS.... GARRET IS IN FIFTH GRADE AND TANYA IS FORTY.... WHAT IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO? WELL IF THEY ARE FAST GROWING AND WE DON'T CATCH ANY BREAKS IT'LL BE A YEAR AND THAT WILL BE END OF IT"
Then doctors determined stem cell transplant surgery could save his life, not just extend it. But, since insurance will not pay, he and wife Tanya would have to come up with 200 thousand dollars by July. The Law enforcement community and other friends started organizing.
Tanya Pusey "THEY HAVE JUST TAKEN IT OVER.. THEY SAID, YOU GUYS HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH AND WE WILL DEAL WITH THE FUNDRAISING.. AND ORGANIZE IT. AND DO EVERYTHING.."
Mark Shurtleff Utah Attorney General "THIS IS A CHANCE TO SAVE ONE REAL DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT .. AND HE NEEDS THE SURGERY... HE WONT LIVE WITHOUT IT... AND INSURANCE WON'T COVER IT,.:"
They have raised about a fourth of the necessary money, and more fundraisers are planned.
Tanya Pusey: "YOU KNOW ITS JUST RESTORES YOUR FAITH IN HUMANITY. TO GET LETTERS FROM STRANGERS IN THE MAIL THAT SAY , HAVE HOPE HAVE FAITH, HERE'S FIVE DOLLARS... I'M GOING THROUGH CANCER TREATMENT AS WELL
Jade Pusey: "YOU KNOW AS A COP YOU START THINKING EVERYBODY OUT THERE IS WILLING TO HURT SOMEBODY FOR THE RIGHT PRICE AND OPPOUTUNITIES WILL A RISE AND PEOPLE WILL TAKE THEM TO HURT OTHERS... AND THIS HAS BEEN 8 WEEKS OF THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE EDUCATION. ITS MADE ME THINK A LOT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY...(edit) IT REALLY IS GOOD PLACE TO BE AND THERE REALLY ARE GOOD PEOPLE HERE. "
There are lots of fundraisers planned in the next month: a dinner, bowling, motor cycle ride, garage and bake sales. And the Pusey's are very grateful for the generosity of friends.
