It’s a normal summer evening at the Ankeny baseball field. But for Cory Wiederin, this night means something a little more. 

Cory gets to throw out the first pitch…or make that two first pitches, to his sons Kellen and Beckett. 

It’s a welcome distraction from the last 15 months of life.

“Started mid-March of 2024, painless hematuria, blood in urine. I thought at the time I was having a kidney stone.  Went to my primary, got a CT scan scheduled and thought nothing of it.  We were heading to Kansas City to watch Iowa State wrestling at the national championships.  We found out together in the car on the way, I did not have a kidney stone, I ended up having a very large tumor on my kidney,  on my left side,” said Cory.

Cancer — life for the Wiederins had just been flipped upside down.

“We were devastated. Young, healthy guy. Don’t even go to the doctor for a regular visit.  So we were just shocked and devastated it was tough to handle,” said Cory.

Cory’s wife, Brittany, said, “Complete shock, kind of the why him.  You ask all those why questions. Or how is this happening?”

Life continues on, but staying positive can be a constant struggle.

“Every single day. Your mind spirals. But you have to stay positive,” said Brittany.

“You ask yourself why all the time but doing that isn’t going to help me get forward, thinking backwards.  I’m just looking to stay positive and move forward every day try not to worry about the whys but what’s next,” Cory said.

Cory had surgery to have the kidney removed. But the cancer is a rare, aggressive form, meaning urgency is needed. 

“We don’t know what’s in store for me yet as far as treatment. In a clinical trial at Mayo right now. Thursday will be our 25th trip up there and will have my 22nd scan, in 15 short months,” said Cory.

The Wiederins have adopted a simple message.  Handle hard better.

“It turned into our life motto, it’s really hard to handle hard better. Know there’s really tough days and sometimes they get the best of you. Get the best of me sometimes you break down and then you build yourself back up. When we’re together you keep moving,” Brittany said.

Cory said, “It’s a cute catch phrase until it’s actually time to put your work boots on and handle hard. It means a lot to us, you know I think anybody can relate to it.”

The cancer diagnosis was obviously a major shock to the Wiederin family.

But Cory decided he wasn’t going to just sit around and let the cancer completely take over his life, so he made a simple promise to his boys. For the next 365 days, one full calendar year, they’ll play catch. A father and his sons, every day.  No matter what.

“It’s just moments together even just out there talking, no other outside noise.  Just us throwing the ball around, playing catch, having a conversation, smiling,” Cory said.

Kellen said, “I love playing catch with my dad.”

And on this night, the Wiederin boys took the field at Ankeny to have a catch.

Brittany said, “Watching the three of them playing catch, having fun, it warms the heart because it’s just the simplest things right.  Just a ball and a glove, your brother and your dad, your son.  It’s just incredible, I love it.”

“We started on March 25th playing catch every day 365 days, so today will be day 75,” Cory said.

As the cancer journey continues for Cory and the Wiederins, it’s all about the priceless moments created as a family.

“Everything…I love these boys, I love Cory, so family time is priceless. Right, like? Work can wait all these other things can wait.  It’s all about the four of us and what works for the four of us, what’s the best for the four of us,” said Brittany.

“It was very hard, I’m only 43 years old I’ve got a lot left to do a lot left to teach,” Cory said. “Every day you just try and stay positive.”