The San Jose Mercury News recently ran the inspiring story of Tom Kaisersatt a rider of 68 years in the 26.2-mile Silicon Valley Marathon who finished the race despite the fact that he is currently being treated for mesothelioma.
Kaisersatt, a software developer for NASA-Ames, is also a well known California running coach. As a veteran of more than 150 marathons himself Kaiseratt had devoted years of life to help others finish the race by the Foundation San Jose Fit a program that trains runners and walkers for marathons and long events distance. Kaiseratt is noted by his former students as the ideal coach and continually for each student, no matter how long it took to get to the finish line.
diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, a terminal cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos in the air, Kaisersatt was undergoing chemotherapy at the race, but he was determined to race even with his diminished lung capacity. The alumni and friends made special arrangements with the race organizers to allow Kaiseratt to perform parts of the race during the weeks before and then complete the last 5 miles during the official race with riders from his own organization San Jose Fit.
Kaisersatt was proud to finish what could be his last race, as the next step in his treatment of mesothelioma will be a final round of chemotherapy, then a possible extra-pleural pneumonectomy, which will result in the deletion of his right lung. Kaisersatt is optimistic about his condition and feels confident that he will continue to live well even with the removal of the lung, but probably not running in the next marathon.
The greatest blessing in this story is the number of yellow-shirted balloons toting fans "Team Tom" that lined the streets where the marathon was managed and cheered in support of the inspiring story of Kaisersatt . Composed of colleagues and former students, Kaisersatt proposed by the screening and overwhelmed by the support. The fight with mesothelioma is far from over for Tom Kaisersatt but love and support will probably stay with him through these difficult times.
