A gaunt Aaron Peitsmeyer (right) watches a Marysville High School football scrimmage during the 2018 preseason. The 2019 version (left) is much more healthy and back fulltime with the Monarchs as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
(Journal-Tribune photos by Tim Miller)
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A couple years ago, things were looking very bleak – to say the least – for Marysville High School assistant football coach Aaron Peitsmeyer.
It was in June of 2017 when Peitsmeyer, a teacher and coach in the Marysville school district, became very ill while on vacation at the Outerbanks.
He was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer with a name – fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma – that employs a good portion of the alphabet.
“The doctors told me there is no real cause for this type of cancer,” Peitsmeyer said during a recent Monarch football camp session. “They told me it’s not hereditary and that one in five million people get this type of cancer.
“It hit just like that,” he said. “The doctors told me the tumor could have been slowing growing in my body over two or three years.”
What Peitsmeyer went through over the next year would have been enough to throw anyone for a huge loss.
The cancer spread throughout his body and the prognosis was not promising.
Peitsmeyer went through chemotherapy treatments for six months.
He then became stable enough to undergo surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City in April of 2018.
It was a grueling 17-hour ordeal that involved six surgeons.
“They cut me open on the sternum and across the belly button,” said Peitsmeyer. “I’ve got quite a battle scar.”
Surgeons removed a 17-centimeter tumor from his liver and one that measured three centimeters from his heart.
“It was amazing they got all the tumors at once,” he said.
The marathon surgical procedure was followed by two months of recovery, which included a five-week stay in the hospital.
Through it all, Peitsmeyer, 35, was overwhelmed by the support he received during his time of struggle.
“There were a lot of prayer chains that really helped,” he said. “There was so much support from the school, staff, community and players.
“I really appreciate all the support I received,” he said. “It really got me through.”
Peitsmeyer was able to come back as a Monarch assistant coach on a part-time basis for the 2018 gridiron season.
“I started pretty slowly and it was a lot of hit-and-miss,” he said. “There were some days I couldn’t be at practice.”
He also was able to return to the classroom on a part-time schedule last winter.
Peitsmeyer began teaching fulltime during April and May for the remainder of the school year.
Flash forward to this summer and no one could blame Peitsmeyer for feeling on top of the world.
“What a difference a year makes,” he said during the camp session. “It’s a good feeling to be back in the saddle.”
Peitsmeyer has returned to coaching fulltime with the Monarch gridiron team.
He will coach linebackers along with Mike Powers and serve as co-defensive coordinator with Kevin Brandfass.
He will also teach business classes at Marysville High School and Bunsold Middle School.
A year ago, Peitsmeyer’s physical appearance showed just what he had been through. He looked pale and had lost quite a bit of weight.
To look at him now, one would never think he had been so sick such a relatively short time ago.
“I’ve put on a few pounds,” he laughed, “but that’s OK.”
Although Peitsmeyer has returned to good health, he still has to be wary of what he’s gone through.
“I’m now down to checkups every three months,” he said. “However, there’s no long-term prognosis for me because doctors just don’t have enough data … it’s that rare of a disease.”
For now, however, he’s just glad to be back what he enjoys the most… teaching school and coaching football.