On Dec. 23, I, along with many across the nation, read the gut-wrenching message that former Sen. Ben Sasse wrote to the American people.

“Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.”

The rest of his message is about his outlook, his faith and his family. Through both his writing and his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Sasse was an incredibly principled, conservative leader for Nebraska. In 2021, he became disillusioned with President Trump, and he was one of the Republican Senators who voted to convict the President in his second impeachment.

After facing intense backlash from fellow Republicans following his impeachment vote, Sasse ultimately left the Senate in 2023. But shortly after announcing his diagnosis, people across the political spectrum, including many of Trump’s closest allies, released statements in tribute to Sasse and his legacy. It’s clear that one vote will not define Sasse’s Senate career, and it certainly won’t define his legacy as a friend, son, husband and father.

I am a staunch Republican, and I voted for President Trump, but to me, few embody America’s ideals as much as Senator Sasse. I pray for a miracle, but regardless of the outcome, his contributions to America will forever be remembered. I highly recommend everyone read his entire message, and I’ll end by quoting words I’ll long remember,

“It’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do… we’re all on the clock”

Matthew Kearney

Cresson