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Cancer.
Just seeing the word scares me.
And as much as Providence coach Dan Potempa was fired up with IHSA assistant executive director Beth Sauser for sending his team more than 400 miles to compete in a geographic-based tournament, odds are his range of emotions were a bit different when he learned he had testicular cancer.
"It has spread to my lymph nodes in my abdomen, but that's all," Potempa said. "My lungs are clear. On Wednesday morning, my doctor put the decision in my hands on whether to do chemo or radiation. I'm a borderline patient. I've got an appointment next Thursday at Indiana University to meet with Lance Armstrong's doctors for a second opinion and consultation."
Potempa has tried to keep this quiet, wanting to keep the focus on his team. But this week, he was caught between a rock and a hard place mainly because of the IHSA's blunder.
"I'm in the beginning of my battle with cancer," Potempa said. "I had surgery to remove the tumor on Oct. 2, and I had an appointment this past Wednesday to meet with an oncologist because I knew there wasn't a game that day."
Providence was set to play Tuesday. But then the IHSA moved the game to Wednesday, as it was dealing with a public relations nightmare of a high school team traveling more than 245 miles one-way on a school night for one of its tournament games.
"They moved it to Wednesday, so I had to move my appointment," Potempa said. "My doctor came in at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday to meet with me, and his usual hours start at 10 a.m.
"I don't want to take away from the accomplishments my boys are achieving. I don't want to be the focus. They're the ones on the field working hard and winning games, they deserve the credit."
What Potempa doesn't realize is that this doesn't take away from Providence advancing to the Class 3A Edwardsville Sectional Final. It reminds all of us once again that it's important to never take anything for granted.
"I want people to be aware of early detection," Potempa said. "I had thought I caught it early enough, but it seems like I haven't .
"Everybody is really positive that I'm going to beat this. Everyone is supportive and willing to help out in any way possible.
"I've had parents offer to babysit, drive me to the doctor, etc. It has been overwhelming."
- Joe Trost
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Coach Potempa has the power of the entire Providence Catholic family supporting him in thoughts and prayers. He will beat this!