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TOOELE — Covered in hearts filled with messages of love and well-wishes from friends, family and strangers, the home of Ryan Tomac is hard to miss.
Three weeks ago, Tomac was told that after 26 rounds of chemotherapy and two surgeries, the rare form of bone cancer found one year ago in this former baseball player's shoulder had taken over his body.
"I tried my hardest," Tomac said. "(But) I told myself I don't want to know how long I've got; I just want to enjoy every minute that I've got."
With Tomac's health declining, the community jumped into action, raising almost $1,000 to send Tomac and his family to Cincinnati to see his favorite baseball team play.
"I got a hat in sixth grade, a Cincinnati Reds hat," Tomac said. "It was my first actual fitted hat."
Tomac went on to play baseball at Tooele High School, where he "tried to be a leader on the team."
And last week, the team retired his jersey.
"It means something special, it means you made such an impact," Tomac said.
Others have taken notice of his positive attitude in the face of adversity. At 20 years old, Tomac was training to become a firefighter. This past week, he got a surprise visit from the Tooele City Fire Department, where he received a plaque and was made an honorary member of the fire department.
"It meant the world," Tomac said.
Three weeks ago the unexpected happened to this Tooele family, but a community stepped up to the plate.
"I'm so humbled," said Matt Tomac, Ryan Tomac's dad. "We're so proud to belong to Tooele."
With donations from the community, Ryan Tomac and his family drove close to 2,000 miles and walked into the dugout at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday night. He was visibly exhausted but at home.
"This is the top of my bucket list," Tomac said. "I want to watch my favorite team play at their home stadium and enjoy some baseball."
The Reds welcomed Ryan onto their field to meet some of his favorite players, including Golden Glove winner Brandon Phillips.
Nice meeting u too boss RT @RyanTomac: Finally met my hero! @DatDudeBP is such a down to earth man! Honor to meet u! pic.twitter.com/Q1U2KTtNlV — Brandon Phillips (@DatDudeBP) August 26, 2015
He got a jersey, a signed baseball and VIP tickets. Tomac explained his love for the game:
"It's America's pastime; there's nothing like it. The pop of a glove, the sound of a good-hit ball," he said. "It's hard to explain, you just have to experience it. ... I am very, very thankful, and very happy, and very at peace."
Editor's Note: Ryan Tomac died Sunday morning, Aug. 30, at the age of 20 after his battle with bone cancer.
