EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) — Michael Truskoski, 41, is more grateful than ever for every moment with his family.
His daughters, 3 and 7 years old, have an idea that their dad is sick, but it is hard to understand that Daddy has incurable lung cancer.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
“You look at him, and he’s so normal and healthy. But he is not,” said Hannah Johnson, Truskoski’s wife.
“I’ve been trying to be as normal and do as many normal things as I can,” Truskoski said.
One of the things he dedicates his time to is coaching youth hockey, a passion he has pursued for the majority of his life. The team he coaches is not just a group of players to him; they are like a second family. Recently, he found out he has stage 4 lung cancer, which was discovered after experiencing a seizure at work three weeks ago. This was caused by cancer cells that had spread to his brain. Fortunately, he underwent successful brain surgery to remove the tumor.
“Found out it was the secondary tumor. It was not the primary tumor,” Truskoski said.
The primary tumor is the lung cancer.
“His cancer is not curable. It’s something we’re going to manage,” Johnson said.
Despite facing this challenging diagnosis, he is determined to continue coaching through his cancer treatment. He firmly believes that the unwavering support he receives from both his biological family and his hockey family is crucial for his well-being and recovery.
“When you get the level of support that I have, you want to go back as quickly as you can,” Truskoski said.
As the town of Evanston gears up to celebrate hockey days this weekend, Coach Mike feels a deep sense of joy returning to the familiar setting of the Robert Crown center ice rink. He is looking forward to the first game scheduled for Friday evening, surrounded by the excitement and camaraderie of the hockey community.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
