'You’re Not Going to Remember Me, But I Remember You.'

For more than 30 years, Athletic Trainer Dan Gehri has helped athletes through some of their worst days.

Now, he's leaning on many of the same lessons himself.

On Sept. 2, just two days into the school year at Oshkosh West, Gehri suffered a seizure at his desk. Doctors discovered a grade 4 primary glioma, and he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Two days later, he underwent surgery to remove the tumor.

Gehri can no longer work as an Athletic Trainer, although he continues showing up at games and spending time with the athletes he's cared for. Pasted text

And he's trying to approach his diagnosis the same way he's approached injured athletes throughout his career.

“I help kids who for some of them, that day is the worst of their life,” Gehri said. “I feel like I have to help instill in these kids that yes, today is bad, but tomorrow is going to be better.”

“I can't go back, I can only go forward.” Pasted text

“I remember you.”

Since his diagnosis, Gehri has heard from current athletes, opposing teams and people he cared for years ago.

Many of the messages begin exactly the same way.

“You’re not going to remember me, but I remember you.”

Gehri estimates he's received at least 30 messages like that from former athletes. Meanwhile, teams at Oshkosh West have held fundraisers, opposing schools have joined the effort, and Kimberly football players even wore ribbons on their helmets in support. Pasted text

It is a reminder that an Athletic Trainer's impact isn't always measured by the ankle they taped or the injury they helped rehabilitate.

Sometimes it's the person an athlete remembers decades later.

Still showing up

Gehri's treatment will include chemotherapy and radiation, and doctors have been candid with him about the seriousness of his diagnosis. Pasted text

But he's making plans.

He's writing down the story of his life for his three daughters. He's walking his dog. He wants to attend as many of his daughter's college basketball games as possible, spend more time outside, travel and make memories with his family. Pasted text

He's also made continuing to support the athletes at Oshkosh West and Winneconne one of his goals. Pasted text

And there's one more goal that ties everything together:

Do it all again.

“We're going to make memories while we can,” Gehri said.

His outlook may be best summed up by something he originally wrote while reflecting on the time he has left.

“I got 1,000 days left and I am not going to spend one of them feeling sorry for myself or hiding under the covers.”