Overcoming Cancer: Webster Football Coach Embraces His Own Advice
In a remarkable display of resilience, Scott Deuschle, a high school football coach with 27 years of experience at Webster Thomas High School, has been battling head-and-neck cancer since 2022. Despite the challenging treatment regime that included complex surgery, seven weeks of radiation, and chemotherapy, Deuschle has continued to coach, inspiring his players and the community with his unwavering spirit.
Deuschle's close friend, Luis Ruffolo, M.D., a surgical resident at the University of Rochester Medical Center and former Webster Thomas football team captain, has been a source of emotional support throughout this ordeal. Ruffolo, who played for Deuschle and later coached at Webster, has been a constant presence, offering encouragement and solidarity.
Deuschle's health is now stabilised, with close monitoring by his oncologist, Megan Baumgart, M.D. The details of his treatment team, including Baumgart, surgeon Joel Fontanarosa, M.D., Ph.D., radiation oncologist Michael Cummings, M.D., physician assistant Allison Gunderson, PA-C, and the nurses and staff at Wilmot Cancer Institute, have not been widely reported, but Deuschle has spoken highly of his care team, particularly Baumgart.
The treatment took a toll on Deuschle's health, affecting his taste buds and causing him to lose over 40 pounds. However, he has remained positive, cherishing life more than ever and taking time to appreciate the small things. This new perspective has allowed him to reconnect with old friends and witness the birth of his first grandchild.
In a heartwarming gesture, Deuschle, along with the Webster Thomas Booster Club, Schroeder coach Mike Stumpf and his staff, and the Schroeder Booster Club, is organising a fundraiser event on September 22 at Webster Schroeder High School to benefit the Wilmot Cancer Institute. Last year's similar event raised over $1,100 for the institute.
Through his courage and determination, Deuschle has shown the impact he has had on the lives of former players, parents, and the community. His story serves as a reminder of the power of resilience and the importance of community support during challenging times.
- Scott Deuschle's resilience during his battle with cancer, a medical-condition, has been inspiring not just his football team, but the entire community, demonstrating the power of health-and-wellness in the face of adversity.
- Despite the side-effects of his cancer treatment affecting his taste buds and causing significant weight loss, Deuschle has remained positive, emphasizing the significance of appreciating every moment in life, even the small things.
- In an effort to give back to the health institution that has been instrumental in his care, Deuschle, along with several stakeholders, is organizing a fundraiser event for the Wilmot Cancer Institute, underlining the importance of supporting institutions that focus on science, particularly in the field of cancer research and treatment.
