AUSTIN, Texas -
The Concordia University Texas athletic department has added a special feature to its Alumni Game Day when the Tornados host LeTourneau on Saturday, January 9.Concordia alumna Tia Brady (B.Ed. 1998, M.Ed. 2010) was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma in August 2015. The cancer has metastasized to her liver and abdomen. This is her second bout with the disease, which she first battled in the summer of 2010.
"They were able to remove it all then. I was clear for almost five years before it returned," she said. "This most recent, aggressive form came this past August."
According to her online journal, Tia was uninsured throughout much of this process due to a clerical error with her insurance. This has included numerous ER trips, hospital stays and procedures. The insurance was restored on Dec. 1, 2015, according to her sister Tiffany Smith.
As a student in the late 90s, she was passionate about CTX Athletics and was a mainstay at events.
"She was always trying to get more students to come to games. She would paint her dorm room windows in support of the teams' upcoming home games," her friend and fellow Concordia alumna Kristin Wollman said.
Outside of that, she was an RA, a student ambassador, active in SGA and homecoming queen, Wollman added.
She traveled to many road games for all sports, but her biggest love was basketball. According to Wollman, there were a few years where Tia didn't miss a single men's basketball game. She was also known to travel off-site to support the Tornados' baseball,softball and soccer programs at various locations around Austin.
"I'm just a fan of athletics," Tia said. "I love the sports, the excitement and the athletes were my friends."
Tia returned to Concordia as an admissions counselor. While working at CTX, Tia was a fixture at the stats table, helping both the men's and women's basketball teams in a variety of game-day assignments. As an admissions counselor, she helped with recruiting hundreds, if not thousands, of Tornado students and athletes. Including her years as an undergrad, Tia devoted 13 years to the Concordia as a student and employee.
Tia says her favorite memories include road trips with basketball to New Orleans, soccer trips to East Texas and "any trip" to Schreiner and Texas Lutheran. She also fondly remembers pack the gym nights and "Midnight Madness".
As part of Alumni Game Day, Concordia is holding a fundraiser for Tia to help off-set some of her medical costs. Leading up to the games, more information will be shared about Tia's story.
There will be a light reception catered by Plucker's Wing Bar between games with additional details of her fight. You can find out more about Tia on her CaringBridge blog.
Brady credits her strength to fight cancer to her relationship with God and support from family and friends
She offers these words of encouragement to anyone in a similar position:
Hang in there! I know that each day holds blessings of its own -- there are some really good days and some not so good days! Ultimately, the battle has been won for us! This isn't our eternal home and that is a comfort to me. I know God is leading this journey and He does have a plan for me, even if I don't see it right now. I believe that God is faithful to His promises and His people. I know I fail Him all the time, but He still holds on to me and loves me no matter what. His plan will be revealed in His time. I will just continue trusting that promise, and I will continue relying on my amazing support group to carry me through the many times that I may doubt during my fight.
All faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are encouraged to attend. Alumni are asked to register at this link, though there will also be registration at the door.
Former basketball players will have the opportunity to walk onto the court for a brief recognition during halftime of each game.
The women tip-off at 1 p.m. with the men's game to follow.
Special thanks to Kristin Wollman, Tiffany Smith and Tia Brady for their contributions to this story. Updated Jan. 5, 2016.
