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Terry Tucker is a former NCAA Division I college basketball player, a girls’ high school basketball coach, and a stage IV cancer warrior who has been battling an ultra-rare form of melanoma for over 13 years. Despite being told he had two years to live, Terry has transformed his journey into one of inspiration, hope, and strength—sharing his story to help others face adversity with purpose and courage. He is also the author of Sustainable Excellence: Ten Principles to Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life.

Segment Summary:
In this powerful opening segment, Terry shares the moment his life changed forever—the shocking cancer diagnosis that came from a friend and doctor, and the emotional toll of hearing he had a rare, terminal disease with no known cure. But instead of succumbing to fear or despair, Terry reveals how he mentally reframed his prognosis, drawing on his background as an athlete and coach to stay focused, goal-driven, and mentally strong.

From hearing, “You have two years to live,” to deciding to rewrite his own story, Terry’s perspective on purpose, mindset, and what truly drives survival is both humbling and incredibly motivating.

Key Topics:

• The unexpected discovery of a rare melanoma on the bottom of his foot
• What it was like to be diagnosed by a friend—and the weight of that conversation
• The mental shift from “death sentence” to “life sentence”
• How athletic discipline and personal values shaped his fight
• The importance of long-term goals and emotional motivation in healing
• Why mindset matters more than medical odds

Guest Contact & Resources:
📘 Sustainable Excellence: Ten Principles to Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life – available wherever books are sold
🌐 MotivationalCheck.com – Terry’s blog, resources, and speaking info
📣 Follow Terry on Instagram: @terry.tucker.1

Let me know if you'd like this adapted for a full episode, or if you’d like a thumbnail or caption to go with this one. Terry's story is incredibly powerful—we can make this hit hard in all the right ways.

Find out more about Kali and the show HERE: https://humanityoffame.com/