Making a wish to fish: Families get a break from hospitals and hardships for a day on the lake
By Alan Rogers, The Southern
Monday, August 17, 2009 11:50 PM CDT
WHITTINGTON - At age 7, Dawson DeCap has already overcome a lifetime's worth of adversity without complaint, but he still wasn't happy with the 12-inch channel catfish, which left his hands a mess after he handled it.
"It's slimy!" Dawson said, leaning over the edge of the boat to rinse his fingers off in the waters of Rend Lake.
Dawson and his parents were one of 10 families that gathered at the lake Monday for a day of fishing and boating with the United Special Sportsman Alliance. The Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization is dedicated to brightening the lives of children with disabilities or critical illnesses by introducing them to the outdoors.
USSA founder Brigid O'Donoghue said in addition to the physical pain of disease and treatment, dealing with a life-threatening illness can be incredibly stressful for the entire family. Most parents face huge medical bills and time lost from work to care for their children, and as a result some risk losing their homes or cars.
"Our goal is to get them away from that difficult life," O'Donoghue said. "We bring the whole family out to enjoy that moment of peace."
Dawson's difficulties began in 2005 when he was diagnosed with late-stage neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer that attacks the nervous system. The cancer spread through his body unnoticed until tumors behind his eyes caused them to bulge. Doctors informed his parents, Jeff and Kelly DeCap of Geneseo, their son only had a 30 percent chance of surviving.
Dawson underwent intensive treatment, including six rounds of chemotherapy, two surgeries to remove a tumor from his abdomen, radiation treatments, antibody therapy and a stem cell transplant to replace cancerous growth in his bone marrow. But he beat the odds and is in remission and has tested cancer-free.
Kelly DeCap said the time spent at Rend Lake with USSA was a time for families to relax away from the daily realities of hospitals and treatments.
"When you have a child who's critically ill, it really makes you happy to see them do something they enjoy," she said.
Professional fishermen from the Bass Pro Shop Big Cat Quest catfish circuit volunteered their time and equipment to step up the experience. Jeff Dodd of Brazil, Tenn., rocketed the DeCap family across Rend Lake at 40 miles per hour in his bass boat to find ideal spots with his fish-finding system. Once Dodd cast out the lines, it was a matter of minutes before Dawson had a nibble.
Dodd has been volunteering at the event for several years, and said the positive atmosphere keeps him coming back.
"Four volunteers are out here for the first time, but I guarantee they'll be back next year," Dodd said. "These kids have a great time, and the fishermen do, too."
USSA was founded in 2000 and has been holding annual family fishing events at Rend Lake for the past six years, O'Donoghue said. This year the Illinois Department of Natural Resources waived fishing license requirements so participants could fish for free, and Rend Lake Resort provided hotel rooms at no cost for families to stay overnight.
More information on the USSA is available at www.childswish.com.
[email protected]
618-351-5083
By Alan Rogers, The Southern
Monday, August 17, 2009 11:50 PM CDT
WHITTINGTON - At age 7, Dawson DeCap has already overcome a lifetime's worth of adversity without complaint, but he still wasn't happy with the 12-inch channel catfish, which left his hands a mess after he handled it.
"It's slimy!" Dawson said, leaning over the edge of the boat to rinse his fingers off in the waters of Rend Lake.
Dawson and his parents were one of 10 families that gathered at the lake Monday for a day of fishing and boating with the United Special Sportsman Alliance. The Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization is dedicated to brightening the lives of children with disabilities or critical illnesses by introducing them to the outdoors.
USSA founder Brigid O'Donoghue said in addition to the physical pain of disease and treatment, dealing with a life-threatening illness can be incredibly stressful for the entire family. Most parents face huge medical bills and time lost from work to care for their children, and as a result some risk losing their homes or cars.
"Our goal is to get them away from that difficult life," O'Donoghue said. "We bring the whole family out to enjoy that moment of peace."
Dawson's difficulties began in 2005 when he was diagnosed with late-stage neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer that attacks the nervous system. The cancer spread through his body unnoticed until tumors behind his eyes caused them to bulge. Doctors informed his parents, Jeff and Kelly DeCap of Geneseo, their son only had a 30 percent chance of surviving.
Dawson underwent intensive treatment, including six rounds of chemotherapy, two surgeries to remove a tumor from his abdomen, radiation treatments, antibody therapy and a stem cell transplant to replace cancerous growth in his bone marrow. But he beat the odds and is in remission and has tested cancer-free.
Kelly DeCap said the time spent at Rend Lake with USSA was a time for families to relax away from the daily realities of hospitals and treatments.
"When you have a child who's critically ill, it really makes you happy to see them do something they enjoy," she said.
Professional fishermen from the Bass Pro Shop Big Cat Quest catfish circuit volunteered their time and equipment to step up the experience. Jeff Dodd of Brazil, Tenn., rocketed the DeCap family across Rend Lake at 40 miles per hour in his bass boat to find ideal spots with his fish-finding system. Once Dodd cast out the lines, it was a matter of minutes before Dawson had a nibble.
Dodd has been volunteering at the event for several years, and said the positive atmosphere keeps him coming back.
"Four volunteers are out here for the first time, but I guarantee they'll be back next year," Dodd said. "These kids have a great time, and the fishermen do, too."
USSA was founded in 2000 and has been holding annual family fishing events at Rend Lake for the past six years, O'Donoghue said. This year the Illinois Department of Natural Resources waived fishing license requirements so participants could fish for free, and Rend Lake Resort provided hotel rooms at no cost for families to stay overnight.
More information on the USSA is available at www.childswish.com.
[email protected]
618-351-5083
