On Tuesday, Ben Sasse, the president of the University of Florida, delivered the bad news. He’s recently been given a terminal stage-four pancreatic cancer diagnosis. In an emotional post on X, Sasse broke the news that his diagnosis is like a “death sentence.” He opened up about the heavy emotional toll that it takes on him, both as a professional and as a family man.
Sasse, who is 53, is an impressive academic. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska to a high school teacher and a military football coach. He continued his education at some of the top institutions in the world, earning degrees from Harvard and Oxford universities. Eventually, he received a doctorate in history from Yale University. His scholarly achievements fortified his political fortunes. He served as U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 2015 to 2023.
During his tenure in the Senate, Sasse was known for his principled stances, including being one of seven Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump following the events of January 6, 2021. Sasse’s political views often sparked controversy, reflecting a commitment to what he termed “conserving” American values amid rising populism.
In making his announcement, Sasse was open about the difficult reality of his sickness. Perhaps most personally, he shared how the diagnosis has been particularly challenging for one as “wired to operate and innovate” as he. As a husband and a father of three, the fight just got a whole lot tougher.
“Friends – This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die,” – Ben Sasse
Pancreatic cancer still takes the lives of more than 67,000 Americans each year and kills more than 51,000 people per year. What Sasse went through is unfortunately all too common for those who are fighting this very lethal form of cancer.
Beyond the personal admission about his health, Sasse made a writing about American life and the world around us that was exceedingly profound. Specifically, he condemned the popular narrative of victimhood in American culture.
“Our history is exclusively a story of victimhood and a narrative of oppression. There can be no redemption, no progress, and no hope.” – Ben Sasse
He further stated, “Victimization is a story we trumpet. Demagogues denounce the idea that there could be anything left to conserve in America.” This quip highlights his bigger frustration that today’s political messaging tends to ignore rewarding people’s core beliefs and accomplishments.
His friends and supporters are fighting for him in the middle of this, Sasse’s darkest day. His emotionally charged announcement about this public health crisis reinforces for us all the fragility of life and emphasizes the need for strong family and community support during troubling times.