Community rallies for Ripley County man ahead of transplant

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(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – A Ripley County man received a surprise parade on Sunday ahead of a life-saving procedure.

53-year-old Scott Fields was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer in July. 

After several rounds of chemotherapy and numerous oncologist visits, he will undergo a bone marrow transplant on March 11. 

Scott has been a UPS delivery driver in the Batesville, Metamora and Laurel area for 25 years. He has also been a longtime member of the Versailles Sons of the American Legion (SAL). 

His wife, Dede, reached out to the Legion and asked if they’d be interested in hosting a send-off parade for him. 

Fellow SAL member Mark Taylor has been friends with Fields since elementary school and didn’t hesitate. 

“When Dede made the phone call I said let me run with it and we’ll put this together. We are thrilled to do this and are so excited for Scott to finally after 8 months get his transplant,” Taylor said.  

Nearly 100 people lined the streets to give their very best to Scott ahead of the transplant.

Fields didn’t have to look far to find someone who was willing to be a donor as his son, Luke, has volunteered to do so.

Scott is expected to stay hospitalized in Kokomo for approximately two months following the March 11 transplant.

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