Greg Tober

     Hello all, Welcome to our new CaringBridge website. We are transitioning from Carepages to keep family and friends updated during our continued victory over brain cancer over the past eight years.  In case your just joining in...

     I am Greg Tober. I live with my family: Andy, my wife of 23 years; Caleb, our 9-year-old son; and Sheryl, Andy's mom, who came to live with us 5-and-a-half years ago. We live 17 miles west of downtown Billings, Montana on an idyllic 20-acre "ranch." Our house is very large, with plenty of room for guests, so come visit anytime you'd like! We have lived here for over 12 years and absolutely love it. Yellowstone National Park is only 2 hours away. By Montana standards, that's practically right in our back yard. So many other Montana wonders are nearby, too.

     After graduating from the Coast Guard Academy in 1990, I served 12 years military active duty in the Coast Guard. I was blessed to live my dream of being a helicopter pilot for 10 of those years. In 2002, I was afforded the opportunity to join the Air Force Reserve's world famous “Hurricane Hunters.” There, I learned to fly C-130 aircraft deftly into hurricanes and other weather phenomenon. After balancing military moves every 3-5 years with Andy’s medical doctor career, we gratefully accepted an opportunity to come to Montana in 2005. I had a absolutely great job as an emergency medical helicopter pilot; and Andy became one of the founding physicians for a new hospitalist program at the Billings Clinic Hospital. After 21 years of commissioned military service, I retired from the Air Force Reserve at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Andy continues to set the pace and raise the bar for the most outstanding physicians in the world!

     On October 5, 2009, just before I was to drive into work to be the nighttime helicopter pilot, I suffered a massive tonic-clonic seizure, essentially killing me - temporarily. Our awesome neighbors revived me with CPR. Afterward, I spent a few weeks at the Billings Clinic Hospital and was diagnosed with brain cancer: a stage-3 astrocytoma tumor firmly implanted in my right frontal lobe. It’s not the worst tumor to have, but it’s size and orientation prevented it from being completely resected. With the help of Jesus, support from family and friends, and lots of prayer, I’ve lived through multiple brain surgeries (5), radiation (twice), chemotherapy (twice, also), and all the other fun stuff that goes with this, now, 8-year odyssey we call cancer.

     The Lord has heard all of our prayers. I believe it is his will to heal me from this horrible life-threatening disease. The Bible commands, “Wait upon the Lord” many times. Eight years sometimes seems like a long “wait,” but I have very strong faith that his healing will reveal itself at the perfect time to best glorify him. My life is still very much a new blessing, every day.

     I will continue to use this site to update notable events, as they occur. Generally, “no news is good news” is our policy. Thank you all for your support and words of hope and encouragement. God bless you!