Rest in Piece Coach Thuma

I come back to the blog off my "hiatus" with some sad news. My high school lacrosse coach, Michael Thuma, has passed away Thursday, Dec. 20. He had been battling an extremely rare soft tissue cancer known as synovial sarcoma. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Synovial sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that tends to arise near large joints, particularly the knee, in young adults."

Thuma had been using chemotherapy after the removal of the cyst, which resulted in remission until November of 2017, where the cancer returned and spread to his right lung. This lead to the removal of the origin of the cancer, his left foot, which resulted in amputation.

Things unfortunately didn't improve, as he was eventually moved into hospice, and then passed away at the age of 53. Thuma was the head coach of the varsity lacrosse program at Montini Catholic High School, the director of Western Springs Lacrosse, the director of product development at Suncast Corporation in Batavia, Illinois, and a loving husband and father.

I can't even wrap my mind around all of this. Yes, Coach Thuma was my high school coach. But he was more than that. He was a role model to me. He was a man I looked up to and was able to follow. He had an easy going demeanor, an excellent coaching philosophy, and kindness unmatched.

My high school team was not good my senior year. Not at all. In fact, we were so bad I was considering quitting. I had already committed to play collegiate lacrosse, and I would've rather spent the time hanging out with my friends. But when a man arrives in crutches to your practice, stating he has cancer, and then begins explaining the practice plan for the day like nothing was happening to him in his life, it's pretty motivating. It made me realize that there's always a reason to fight, even if you don't win.

Then he had the surgery. It was a Thursday afternoon, right before a game. I was doing some stretching when my mom texted me, informing me that he was to have the surgery before the season ended, and that he had coached his last game for me. I was devastated. How could I keep playing knowing he was no longer there? My "misfit toys" team and I banded together though. We knew we had to end the season for him.

Our next game was a Tuesday, and there he was. A pair of crutches, a leg and a half, and that genuine look of joy to see his team. I was stunned. Here was a man battling cancer, fighting for his life, losing a limb, and he had made it out to coach some high school team he chose to be a part of. You never forget something like this.

I'm still at a loss for words. My deepest condolences to his family, this sort of thing must be hard to bear. It's never easy losing a loved one, but the legacy that he left behind won't be forgotten. He forever has changed me as an athlete and as a young adult. I pray I can one day have the same values he had. He was a fighter. He was a good man. He was Michael Thuma.

Thank you for the lessons you taught me Coach. How to lead those who can't be lead. How to see the good in bad. How to keep fighting against the odds. How to properly twist my hips on an outside shot on net. I will never forget what you've done for me and for others, your impact will be cherished for years to come.