Longtime ump battles melanoma

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Most of the time you don't notice a good umpire because they are making the right call, but one local umpire, Jim Haley, is not only having to make tough calls on the diamond but off of it as well.

For close to 20 years now, Jim Haley has done a tremendous job as an NCAA Division I and high school softball umpire.

"Umpiring games is a passion of mine," said Haley.

"He's out here trying to help kids have a good time,” says Terre Haute South softball coach Steve Woerner. “He has given up quite a bit for the sport."

As an umpire, Jim has complete control over games, but he wishes he could say the same about his life. In May of 2009 he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.

"Melanomia has progressed, so far, to stage four melanoma, which is the final stage," said Haley.

For almost two years now, Jim has battled skin cancer, knowing the life expectancy of someone in his shoes is only five years.

"Get things taken care at home and with the family. Make sure they are comfortable with everything going on," says Haley.

Despite having several surgeries and chemo every three weeks, Jim refuses to let this horrible disease stop him from living his life. Haley still umps as many as six days a week.

"I don't want to give up what I have been doing or love in life," says Haley.

"I don't know how he does it. So many people feel sorry for themselves. The hand was dealt to him and he is facing it head on," says Woerner.

"[I’m] not going to chance my life because I have something inside me that trying to tear me up," said Haley.

For the time being Jim will continue to battle malignant melanoma, hoping to be able to umpire softball games for another 20 years.

"I am going to fight through this and am going to keep living my life as long as I can,” said Haley.

Jim did say that a new drug has been developed for advanced melanoma patients that has proven effective so far.

The IU Simon Cancer Center on the IUPUI campus has accepted Jim as a new patient to take this drug and do further studies.

Jim also really wanted to remind everyone that May is melanoma month. He says tanning beds are one of the worse things for you and to please protect yourself from the sun, even on cloudy days.