Phillies

Phillies Writer Jim Salisbury and His Family Need Our Help

By Bob Wankel

Published: Oct 26th, 2017 · 12:02 PM EDT

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Jim Salisbury has been writing about baseball in Philadelphia since he first joined The Inquirer in 1996. Though he grew up in New England as a Boston sports fan, he quickly entwined himself into the fabric of this city’s sports scene. I don’t know Jim personally, but I do know he is a hell of a writer, and is, by all accounts, one of the nicest guys in the Philadelphia sports media. He’s also really into Wawa’s Hoagiefest.

I respect it. Anyway, you may have heard by now that Jim’s daughter, Mary, suffered a severe stroke in her spine that left her with a significant spinal cord injury and widespread paralysis.

Mary had recently graduated from Temple University with Honors as she earned a degree in communications. The summer after college graduation should be one of the best summers of a person’s life. New degree, new job, real money, and opportunity to go out and have fun in the city. The summer after graduation should not be spent in the hospital and at rehab facilities. It’s a terrible story, but it’s also one that can have a happy ending with some help.

Former CSN Philly/NBC Sports Philadelphia anchor Leslie Gudel, whose daughter Kendall suffered a stroke three years ago, has started a YouCaring donation page in order to help ease the burden of the heavy medical costs ahead. She writes:

Mary is going to live the life she always dreamed. She is determined to. She is going to get back to work and be independent in the city she loves. She is going to hug her loving and completely devoted mother, as well as her sisters, Caroline and Grace, again. She is going to finish the Broad Street Run again. She just needs some help getting back on her feet.

On behalf of a number of folks that I’ve spoken with who want to help, and as someone who has been there, I appreciate your generosity in helping our friends. All funds will be placed in the Mary Salisbury Special Needs Trust and will be used exclusively to help in her care.

At the time of this post, over 680 people have donated more than $60,000. The Philadelphia sports community is often unfairly criticized for many things, but the truth is that many of you out there are caring, compassionate people that always have each other’s backs in times of need. Salisbury and his family certainly face a time of need. Help support the Salisbury family.