After a nine-year battle with brain cancer, a former Minnesota police officer faces his final struggle. But it’s not the final chapter. He’s written a book—and has one final wish.
Brad Schenck and his wife, Sara, joined Liz Collin to reflect on his life of service and share his one final wish.
Schenck was a member of the Marine Corps and the Air National Guard. He is also a former Moorhead police officer—a true public servant and a patriot. Tragically, it was brain cancer that forced him from his career in law enforcement nearly nine years ago.
“I enjoyed everything that I did. I loved everything that I did,” Schenck told Collin.
“The best thing that I was ever able to do was to be a Marine, a Moorhead police officer and SWAT,” Schenck added.
From a broken arm to brain cancer—to a published book
His diagnosis started with, of all things, a broken arm. In 2015, Brad was serving as a member of the North Dakota Air National Guard when that accident happened.
“He was at training … and they said he was going in for possible surgery. From there is when he started to have a hard time reading and writing, and I started noticing … he went to an eye doctor and they said, everything looked OK. Then, he went back and they said, it’s a concussion. So I was like, that’s kind of weird that you’d get a concussion so many months later. So, he went to the VA for the first time ever. And, just for a follow up checkup and that’s when he called and said, you know, they found a lemon-sized tumor in my brain,” Sara, Brad’s wife, explained.
Brad Schenck is 43, and the father of three kids ages 18, 14, and 10. He wanted to leave his kids with his story. So in between the surgeries, chemo, and radiation, he became a published author. His book, “No Easy Way Out” is available on Amazon.
“At that time, I could still read. I could still do all that stuff,” Brad said.
After publishing the book, Brad then sent a link to his wife Sara to order a copy for him. She didn’t know Brad was actually going to surprise her.
“He sends me a picture and says can you order this online for me … and all of sudden I see on the bottom his name Bradley Schenck and I’m like what is this?”
Sara said, “I had no idea he was doing that. He tends to do things that just amaze me all the time.”
Brad dedicated the book to his kids. His message is about how life is not easy and how it’s important to work and never give up.
Words no longer come as easy for Brad, as he is receiving hospice care now at home.
Brad’s hospice team recently held a pinning ceremony for Brad and his family where hundreds of people showed up to show their support.
A final wish…
Yet like a true patriot, Brad is still in the fight and he has one final wish.
“He wants to sign a book for Trump,” Sara said.
Collin told Sara and Brad that she will reach out to the Alpha News audience and others seeking help to make Brad’s final wish come true.
A fund has also been set up to help Brad’s family.
