The Wilder Family- Brett's Recovery

An incredible person and our beloved teacher, coach, and friend, Coach Brett Wilder just turned 52 years old and has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.  Brett is a longtime Pirate as he is a member of the first four year graduating class of PCHS where he met and later married his high school sweetheart, Dawn Wilder.  Long time members of the community, Brett and Dawn came back to Port Charlotte after college and raised both of their children, who also graduated from PCHS. Brett and Dawn’s unwavering dedication to the school is apparent now, and has been, for many years. They selflessly give to the school and community continuously in the gym and classroom as well as being the sponsors of Student Government and countless other things they do on a daily basis to make Port Charlotte High better. Knowing the Wilders, you have experienced “The Wilder Effect”, difficult to explain, but easily understood.


Sadly, Coach Wilder discovered he had lung cancer a little over three years ago; he had surgery and everyone believed he was cancer free.  Last year he was getting headaches and having some balance issues so he went back to Moffitt where he found out the cancer had traveled to the cerebellum in the brain, affecting his coordination and balance. He had another surgery and thought the cancer was again removed.  Recently he was having the same symptoms and returned to Moffitt yet again to find out the cancer had now traveled throughout his brain and spinal fluid, which speeds up the spreading through the central nervous system. He has just completed a round of strong radiation treatments and has been prescribed a relatively new chemotherapy pill that he will have to take forever. These pills are very expensive, but are working. They are just one of the many expenses the Wilder family is continuing to face with their new normal.


For those of you who know Coach Wilder, you know that he is an extraordinary human being.  He is cheerful, caring, and unbelievably strong. He always puts his friends and family before himself.


Because of this most recent battle with cancer, he has been unable to work and is not sure when, if ever, he will be able to return.  As you can imagine, his expenses are astronomical. Some of his medical expenses are not covered, and with the everyday necessities of life, along with traveling to and from Moffitt, money is getting tighter and tighter.


Coach Brett Wilder is one of the strongest, most selfless person most of us have ever known and is always there to give his love and support or even the shirt off his back to anyone in need.


Now, it’s time that we send back some of that love and support to Coach Wilder.  Anything you can donate will be truly appreciated. Everything we can do to help support and to surround him with love is what is most important so he can focus on finally beating this thing.  Please spread the word. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!