When Tim was 9 he found a lump on his arm. At the time, his doctor said it was just a bruise and would probably go away. But when Tim was hit by a pitch on that lump playing baseball and the pain got progressively worse, doctors knew it wasn't a just a bruise. Doctors realized that lump actually was a blood clot, and surgery revealed bone cancer. He was immediatly transfered to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. A week later his left arm was amputated just above the elbow to stop the cancer from spreading.
After an amputation most kids would have given up on their sports careers, but Tim was just getting started. He spent his grade school years playing basketball and football. By the time he reached college, Tim was a member of the U.S. Paralympics Volleyball Team competing in Sydney, Australia, and throughout Europe. As a teenager he spent five years as a bat boy and clubhouse attendant for the Milwaukee Brewers.
"While I was at Children's Hospital, I never once thought that my outcome would be negative. Neither did my doctors or nurses. This was just one of those things that changes the way you do things. It's as simple as that."
Tim has been cancer-free for 19 years. He married his college sweetheart, Jodie, and now is pursuing his master's degree in couseling.