TJ Kohler has “It.” Ask anyone who has ever met him and everyone will agree. They may all have a different definition of what “It” is, but he absolutely has “It” - without a doubt. But right now everyone can agree about the “It'' that TJ has - it’s Cerebellar Astrocytoma , a beatable form of brain cancer (https://bit.ly/35x2uh4).
It will be several more months, conservatively, before TJ will be able to coach at full capacity again. There are uncertainties about how he will respond to the surgery and what potential side effects may remain from the radiation and the surgical procedure. The first half wasn't easy but he's ahead. He’s done the first half alone, let’s let show Coach Kohler the team will be there to help him win the second half. Continue reading to learn why your donation to #TKStrong will have a significant ripple effect .
THE DETAILS: After blacking out in the park with his Lil Cub, 3 ½ y/o Kash, on Aug 21, the steps were set in motion for a quick diagnosis and subsequent treatment protocol at The James Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Starting on August 25, TJ has been driving 35 miles, 3 - 4 times a week for radiology treatments and oncology consults. As treatment has progressed and the intensity of the radiation has increased to attack the tumor more aggressively in preparation for a Nov.9 surgical extraction, TJ’s “It” has somewhat diminished. It’s certainly not gone, and he is managing day-to-day tasks and taking care of himself and others in an extraordinary way. However, he’s been unable to work for the past month and will face a long road of recovery once he is cancer-free.
IN HIS OWN WORDS (Posted on Oct. 14): Been a million questions...here's some answers and info. Yes the radiography marks are permanent, we'll make it something cool after I beat this and YES I WILL beat this. A few more weeks of hell before surgery. Location is everything right...I'm fortunate I probably won't be having my skull cut open. Cerebellar Astrocytoma is it's name but it usually gets called "fn bullshit" by me.
Yes it hurts, sometimes unbearably. Intracranial pressure and necrosis of healthy tissue is a major problem and common side effects of radiation treatment, mostly just drains every bit of life out of me...I'm in week 8 of radiation and cancer is responding well to treatment but we have a long way to go before November 9th. That's a big day.
Only sharing this because so many people have asked and between the 20+ pounds of weight loss, me basically hiding out, constant fatigue which is TOTALLY abnormal for me, and the sweet head tattoo there was just too much to actually try and hide and as my oncology team tells me it was also a terribly stupid idea/plan to think I could get through this entirely alone and without the support of others. So pride swallowed and it's out there now…. the pain and dizziness is too bad to ever sleep at night. I've refused any opioid based medicine and just deal with the pain….
Don't be too jealous of my sweet head tat...Kash asks me everyday..."Daddy are you happy? Does your head hurt where your stripes and spots are?". So don't worry my, Lil Cub is on top of making daddy feel better or at least ok and knows that as cool as my "stripes and spots" are, they are the source of a problem.
The kids I coach have been amazing showing their support with messages and pics and Grant started the #TKStrong that has caught on with all of them. We're #allinforthefight and as always #risersandsurvivors….Y'all know I'll be fine!! Gonna take a helluva lot more that fn brain cancer to take me down...
SELFLESS ACTS: TJ is always teaching, preaching and inspiring. In true TJ fashion, rather than ask for help for himself, a month after his diagnosis, TJ started supporting a fundraiser to #CancelKidsCancer. (https://bit.ly/3kmob9T)
“I'll happily take this over ANY child having to go through this pain every day and night, I wouldn't wish this hell
upon anyone much less a child. God chose me for a reason, and I believe it's because he knows I WILL beat this
and use my experience as a platform to teach and help and provide insight and inspiration to ANYONE fighting
this fight.”
I’ve known TJ for over 25 years. Our journey together has been honest, supportive, and an absolute blast! The proudest and most enduring chapter for me to witness over the years, beyond what he is championing right now, has been TJ’s development into a fiercely committed father. His dedication to his three amazing children, Ashlee, Kale & Kash, is unparalleled and fuels his motivation to put this all behind him - for them. His oldest daughter, Ashlee, recently shared @Taylor Swift’s, Soon You’ll Get Better with him. The lyrics perfectly captured her experience of TJ’s cancer and did nothing but cement his need to beat this. His number one priority is to show up for his kids - always.
As a coach, the number of lives TJ has positively influenced is countless. Receiving support from so many of them now is a tremendous source of inspiration for him. This experience has allowed TJ’s reach and purpose to be reflected back to him in a very powerful way and provides even more motivation to be back on the fields to continue to make these athletes better performers and better people.
He will come out on the other side and continue his life of experiencing “it ALL.” As he posted on Oct. 21, “I WILL rise up and tirelessly work to get back to normal and beyond. Brain Cancer has weakened me, but in what should be a very scary thing to some, it has also strengthened me. The physical strength will come back, I'll make sure of that. But the mental and emotional strength I've gained through all of this makes me an even MORE driven, determined, passionate, person with proper perspective.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP: It will be several more months, conservatively, before TJ will be able to coach at full capacity again. There are uncertainties about how he will respond to the surgery and what potential side effects may remain from the radiation and the surgical procedure. After-effects can last for months to years so there may be ongoing expenses accompanied with recovery and returning to activities of daily living making it uncertain when he will be able to fully return to coaching. Many people have asked TJ what they could do for him, while these are challenging times for all of us, donating to provide income to meet living expenses and on-going medical expenses and sharing TJ’s story are the most practical and useful ways to support him. Of course, sending notes, prayers, and thoughts are always purposeful and welcome. #TKStrong #allinforthefight #5KbyTurkeyDay
It will be several more months, conservatively, before TJ will be able to coach at full capacity again. There are uncertainties about how he will respond to the surgery and what potential side effects may remain from the radiation and the surgical procedure. The first half wasn't easy but he's ahead. He’s done the first half alone, let’s let show Coach Kohler the team will be there to help him win the second half. Continue reading to learn why your donation to #TKStrong will have a significant ripple effect .
THE DETAILS: After blacking out in the park with his Lil Cub, 3 ½ y/o Kash, on Aug 21, the steps were set in motion for a quick diagnosis and subsequent treatment protocol at The James Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Starting on August 25, TJ has been driving 35 miles, 3 - 4 times a week for radiology treatments and oncology consults. As treatment has progressed and the intensity of the radiation has increased to attack the tumor more aggressively in preparation for a Nov.9 surgical extraction, TJ’s “It” has somewhat diminished. It’s certainly not gone, and he is managing day-to-day tasks and taking care of himself and others in an extraordinary way. However, he’s been unable to work for the past month and will face a long road of recovery once he is cancer-free.
IN HIS OWN WORDS (Posted on Oct. 14): Been a million questions...here's some answers and info. Yes the radiography marks are permanent, we'll make it something cool after I beat this and YES I WILL beat this. A few more weeks of hell before surgery. Location is everything right...I'm fortunate I probably won't be having my skull cut open. Cerebellar Astrocytoma is it's name but it usually gets called "fn bullshit" by me.
Yes it hurts, sometimes unbearably. Intracranial pressure and necrosis of healthy tissue is a major problem and common side effects of radiation treatment, mostly just drains every bit of life out of me...I'm in week 8 of radiation and cancer is responding well to treatment but we have a long way to go before November 9th. That's a big day.
Only sharing this because so many people have asked and between the 20+ pounds of weight loss, me basically hiding out, constant fatigue which is TOTALLY abnormal for me, and the sweet head tattoo there was just too much to actually try and hide and as my oncology team tells me it was also a terribly stupid idea/plan to think I could get through this entirely alone and without the support of others. So pride swallowed and it's out there now…. the pain and dizziness is too bad to ever sleep at night. I've refused any opioid based medicine and just deal with the pain….
Don't be too jealous of my sweet head tat...Kash asks me everyday..."Daddy are you happy? Does your head hurt where your stripes and spots are?". So don't worry my, Lil Cub is on top of making daddy feel better or at least ok and knows that as cool as my "stripes and spots" are, they are the source of a problem.
The kids I coach have been amazing showing their support with messages and pics and Grant started the #TKStrong that has caught on with all of them. We're #allinforthefight and as always #risersandsurvivors….Y'all know I'll be fine!! Gonna take a helluva lot more that fn brain cancer to take me down...
SELFLESS ACTS: TJ is always teaching, preaching and inspiring. In true TJ fashion, rather than ask for help for himself, a month after his diagnosis, TJ started supporting a fundraiser to #CancelKidsCancer. (https://bit.ly/3kmob9T)
“I'll happily take this over ANY child having to go through this pain every day and night, I wouldn't wish this hell
upon anyone much less a child. God chose me for a reason, and I believe it's because he knows I WILL beat this
and use my experience as a platform to teach and help and provide insight and inspiration to ANYONE fighting
this fight.”
I’ve known TJ for over 25 years. Our journey together has been honest, supportive, and an absolute blast! The proudest and most enduring chapter for me to witness over the years, beyond what he is championing right now, has been TJ’s development into a fiercely committed father. His dedication to his three amazing children, Ashlee, Kale & Kash, is unparalleled and fuels his motivation to put this all behind him - for them. His oldest daughter, Ashlee, recently shared @Taylor Swift’s, Soon You’ll Get Better with him. The lyrics perfectly captured her experience of TJ’s cancer and did nothing but cement his need to beat this. His number one priority is to show up for his kids - always.
As a coach, the number of lives TJ has positively influenced is countless. Receiving support from so many of them now is a tremendous source of inspiration for him. This experience has allowed TJ’s reach and purpose to be reflected back to him in a very powerful way and provides even more motivation to be back on the fields to continue to make these athletes better performers and better people.
He will come out on the other side and continue his life of experiencing “it ALL.” As he posted on Oct. 21, “I WILL rise up and tirelessly work to get back to normal and beyond. Brain Cancer has weakened me, but in what should be a very scary thing to some, it has also strengthened me. The physical strength will come back, I'll make sure of that. But the mental and emotional strength I've gained through all of this makes me an even MORE driven, determined, passionate, person with proper perspective.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP: It will be several more months, conservatively, before TJ will be able to coach at full capacity again. There are uncertainties about how he will respond to the surgery and what potential side effects may remain from the radiation and the surgical procedure. After-effects can last for months to years so there may be ongoing expenses accompanied with recovery and returning to activities of daily living making it uncertain when he will be able to fully return to coaching. Many people have asked TJ what they could do for him, while these are challenging times for all of us, donating to provide income to meet living expenses and on-going medical expenses and sharing TJ’s story are the most practical and useful ways to support him. Of course, sending notes, prayers, and thoughts are always purposeful and welcome. #TKStrong #allinforthefight #5KbyTurkeyDay