Marco Terminesi, the Wave's leading scorer and the third-leading scorer in the Major Indoor Soccer League, has been placed on injured reserve as he undergoes examination for what doctors believe could be a brain tumor.
Terminesi, a native of Woodbridge, Ontario, has returned to Canada for extensive testing and observation. He has missed five of the Wave's last six games with symptoms of nausea, headaches and vertigo, playing only on Jan. 23 against Baltimore. He is on the injured list for five games, making him eligible to return March 7.
"Words cannot describe how much we miss Marco's presence each and every day, more for who he is than what he has done," Wave coach Keith Tozer said. "He and his family are in our prayers, and we look forward to his return to the Wave in the very near future."
In a letter to teammates on Monday, Terminesi said doctors believe he has a tumor on the pineal gland in the center of the brain. The type of tumor and its status is unclear, he said. Doctors believe the best course of action is to observe him for six more weeks, then perform another MRI to see if the tumor has changed size or shape. A biopsy comes with risks because of the location of the gland and the tumor, Terminesi said, so doctors want to pursue other options first.
His doctors aren't positive the symptoms are related to the possible tumor, Terminesi said. The original diagnosis was an inner-ear infection, but as symptoms lingered and worsened, doctors performed tests and found the irregularity.
A popular player both for his skill and his ebullient personality, Terminesi remains upbeat and offered encouragement to his teammates in the letter.
"I am in good hands here and you know I will be jumping up and down every time you guys score and win a game," he wrote. "No matter how much pain I am in I will come down there and hold the trophy with you guys when you win it."
The Wave will face Philadelphia in a battle for first place Sunday at 4 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Arena. The game will be preceded by the World's Longest Pinewood Derby, which will begin at 10 a.m.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
