Scotts Hill announcer battling brain tumor
For all the growth the football program at Scotts Hill has made in recent years, Kevin Wood said he’s had the best seat in the house to watch it happen.
He’s also had the biggest microphone as it’s his voice who’s reminded the chain crew on the visitors’ sideline to “move those chains” after the Lions convert for a first down during home games.
He’s been a big supporter of the football program since almost the time the program started, helping coach younger teams and taking care of public address duties on Friday nights.
His family is entrenched at the school. His wife Angela is a teacher, his daughters Chelsea Phillips and Krista Glover played basketball for the Lady Lions and his son Brent was a lineman two years ago on the Lions’ first team to make the playoffs.
“We love Scotts Hill – the school, athletic teams, community – they’re all great people,” Wood said.
Those “great people” and more have gotten behind Wood as he’s battling a brain tumor. Tweets that include “#KevinStrong” have made regular appearances on social media from Scotts Hill-affiliated accounts, and there have been other more tangible ways Wood and his family have felt support.
“I know there are countless people and churches from all over who have put me on their prayer lists, and I appreciate it very much. I can feel those prayers lifted up for me,” Wood said during a phone interview Thursday morning from his room in Nashville.
Wood and his wife stay at Vanderbilt five days a week for aggressive treatment of his tumor with chemo and radiation. Surgeons had to conduct emergency surgery in July after he woke up in the middle of the night with a severe headache.
“It was like an ice cream headache that wouldn’t go away,” Wood said. “We went to the hospital in Lexington and then they rushed me to Jackson General, and they sent me to Vanderbilt.”
Wood said the family was told (he doesn’t remember much from that day) having the surgery to remove pressure on his brain from the tumor’s growth had major risks.
“I could’ve apparently died from seizures or strokes during the surgery or I could’ve gone blind in my left eye,” Wood said. “But here I am, alive and still able to see because God took care of me and my doctors that day.”
Wood’s diagnosis wasn’t a good one. Doctors gave him less than a year-and-a-half to live if the chemo and radiation don’t work.
“The doctors have an idea of how long I’ll live, but only God knows when it will be time for me to come home,” Wood said. “I went through sadness and depression and anger after they told me, but now I’m in the stage where I’m ready to try to fight this and beat this if it’s the Lord’s will.
“I trust Him and the doctors, but it’s ultimately in His hands.”
Wood experienced support almost immediately after waking up from his initial surgery.
“I was in intensive care, and only family is allowed in there,” Wood said. “And my nurse asked me how many sons I have and told me to lean over and look out the glass window of my room.”
When Wood turned, he saw nine players from Scotts Hill in khaki shorts with shirts tucked in.
“It made me feel so good to know those boys took the time to drive to Nashville to see how I was doing and see my family,” Wood said. “And they represented our school well. I heard them holding doors for nurses with ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘thank you.’
“Those young men represented what Scotts Hill football – and all our sports programs really – are building our young people into.”
Wood said he likes how the doctors are helping. He said one of his main doctors treating him is a big football fan and understands his obligations to the program.
“He’s been good enough to schedule my Friday appointments at 7 a.m. every week,” Wood said. “So that gives me time to go through the treatment for about an hour-and-a-half and be home a little after dinner time.
“You don’t always feel great after having radiation treatment on your brain, and your belly doesn’t feel great after chemo. But I love football, and I plan to be there doing my part as long as I can. They’ve got a Plan B ready to go if I can’t, but I plan on holding off on that as long as possible.”
The Lions have their home opener scheduled for this week against Wayne County. Wood plans to be there to take part.
“I’ve heard rumors they will do something for me too,” Wood said. “I’ve been a part of fund raisers for other people before, but this is the first time for me to be on this side of that fence.
“It’s humbling to know how much the people of Scotts Hill think of me and my family they’d be willing to help us out.”
The help doesn’t start this week. Wood said there have been times he and his wife have returned from Vanderbilt to a mowed lawn, and they never found out who cut it.
“It’s just little things like that that are getting taken care of that let us know they support us,” Wood said.
Brandon Shields, 425-9751
Voice of the Lions Night
Scotts Hill football is having a fundraiser for Kevin Wood before the game against Wayne County on Friday.
When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Scotts Hill cafeteria
What: Chicken plates and barbecue plates with slaw, baked beans, drink and dessert
Price: $8 per plate
• There will also be a silent auction.