Playing with purpose: Sophomore Zach Kohn pitches for father battling leukemia
When Central Michigan sophomore pitcher Zach Kohn traveled home after a three-game weekend series on May 7 last year, he expected everything to be normal.
It was just a typical Sunday night at the Kohn household in Woodhaven. Zach remembers he was playing ping-pong with his brothers to pass the time, when his father Greg sat him down to talk about something.
Greg had been diagnosed with leukemia before Zach got home, and Zach didn't yet know about it.
“I didn’t think anything of it," Zach said. “He said, ‘Zach, I have leukemia but I’m going to beat this.’ I started to cry. My heart dropped because this was something I prayed every night not to happen.”
The baseball team had Monday off, but Zach stayed behind on Tuesday for an extra day with his family in Woodhaven. He returned to the team on Wednesday in Ann Arbor for a game against University of Michigan.
"Before the game, I was shagging for batting practice and all I could think of was how great my life was the last time I was shagging and how quickly everything turned," Zach said. "I always kept telling myself it wouldn't be long until (my dad) was back in the crowd."
Greg’s sister Maureen DiGiacomo, whom Zach calls Aunt Renee, found out she was a match to donate bone marrow and guide Greg in his recuperation from cancer.
“She didn’t hesitate to (donate) at all," Zach said.
The Kohn family didn't wait to notify the doctors about finding a match and starting to transfer the bone marrow.
“Everything went well, but he was in the hospital for four or five weeks before (the bone marrow transfer)," Kohn said. "It was tough to see him going through chemo and radiation.”
CMU baseball head coach Steve Jaksa has been able to mentor Zach on the field for one full season and half of a second season. Jaksa said he has seen the rest of the team pick Zach up during hard times.
“I just see a guy who’s a little down sometimes,” Jaksa said. “He’s holding up and has a good supportive group with the team. It’s personal when it’s your own family, but overall, he’s doing really well.”
Along with pitching for his father, Zach also keeps his grandma, Maureen Kohn, in mind on the mound. Maureen, whom Zach calls Grandma Kohn, died during his father’s chemotherapy treatments.
“I have ‘family’ written on the inside of my game hat and on my wristband is the saying ‘life is good.’ My dad’s worn those shirts for as long as I could remember," Kohn said. "Before every game, I wear his necklace, so I kiss it and point to the sky for my grandma who passed away while he was going through chemo. Those are the people I’m doing it for.
“I believe God has a plan for everybody, so I put the words ‘following God’s plan’ on the inside of the bracelet. As a family, that keeps us going.”
Since he was a boy, Zach has been religious. He has maintained his faith in God through times of trial and tribulation.
“Believing in God and His powers and what He can do, I really think no matter what happens in life," Zach said. "He has a plan.”
In every circumstance, Zach’s mother, Elizabeth Kohn, keeps the family together through her hope and positivity.
"My mom has played a big role since the beginning of this whole process,” Zach said. “She makes sure we keep up with our faith and really is the rock that holds us all together."
Zach, along with his brothers Drew and Travis, is propelled by his mother to keep his head up in spite of life struggles.
“It can be really tough not knowing exactly what my dad is going through but knowing my mom is there to take care of him gives me a feeling of relief."
This time, when CMU traveled to play Michigan in Ann Arbor on March 28, Greg was in attendance to cheer on his son.
"(That) was special considering the year previous I was just learning about his condition and what he was going to have to go through," Zach said.
The right-handed pitcher has appeared in six games for the Chippewas this season. He has thrown 18 strikeouts and allowed 15 hits to opposing batters.
