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What's the story?
Mike Johnson from PWInsider provided an update on the health of former WWE Tough Enough winner Matt Cappotelli, and unfortunately, the news is not good. He is dealing with a grade-4 glioblastoma brain tumour, considered to be the most deadly form of cancer.
Doctors were only able to remove 90% of the current tumour in his brain and the cancer is now considered to be terminal.
In case you didn't know...
Cappotelli was the co-winner of the third season of WWE Tough Enough in 2002 along with John Hennigan who would go on to be known as John Morrison, Johnny Mundo and Johnny Impact. That season of Tough Enough made headlines due to Hardcore Holly being stiff with Cappotelli and busting him open the hard way during training.
While Cappotelli's time on the main WWE roster was short, he did wrestle one pay per view match at 2003's Vengeance when he fought in the APA Invitational Bar Room Brawl that APA member Bradshaw won.
He would transfer to the developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling and eventually become their heavyweight champion before discovering the cancer for the first time in 2006.
The heart of the matter
After being cancer-free for ten years, it, unfortunately, returned in a more aggressive form. Doctors were only able to remove 90% of the tumour because it was too close to the brain to be operable; which was cause for the terminal diagnosis.
On average, people with this type of cancer will live for another five more years. To prevent the cancer from spreading, Cappotelli wears a device known as The Optune which is like a swimming cap. The device prevents the cancer cells from spreading correctly.
This form of cancer has left Cappotelli with physical effects similar to the Parkinson's Disease where he has to deal with slowed speech, and declining motor skills and functioning. He works out in his garage every day to keep as fit as possible as he continues to fight the disease.
News station WRDB-TV in Louisville, Kentucky did a story on Cappotelli's fight and he provided the following quote:
"Though it seems unfortunate, I want it to be portrayed as a story of hope ... unending hope,"
Cappotelli and his family have set up a Go Fund Me page to assist with the mounting costs. For details on how to contribute, click on this link.
Author's take
Cancer sucks. That's plain and simple. I just hope that Matt can physically be able to enjoy what time he has left, or better yet a medical miracle to happen for him and anyone else suffering from cancer.
