My wife and I took our younger son to the doctor today for his every-six-months checkup on his ticker. When Drew was born, his aortic valve was defective and he had to have a valvioplasty done when he was two weeks old. This procedure saved his life, but damaged his aortic valve to the point where everyone knew it would have to be replaced some day.......we just didn't know when.

Well, after his cardiologist looked at today's results, he said "when" is going to be soon. This time, they have to crack him open and do a major surgical repair of his valve. Maybe in the next couple months, but we won't know until he meets with the surgical team from Children's Hospital too see what they think.

Anyway......I thought I'd do something fun with Drew to take his mind off something I'm sure scares him......it scares me. And you know what seemed the perfect thing to do? Fishing. It's a way to connect with somebody close to you that you don't get from a ball game or trip to the arcade. There's just something different about fishing......maybe not for everyone, but it is for me, and Drew shows all the signs of becoming a hopeless fish chaser himself.

I don't know where I was going with this. I just think sometimes we don't realize what fishing does for us. It helps me to cope with things that are beyond my control. I hope it will help Drew cope with the burden he has to shoulder.

Thanks for listening.

My wife and I wish you the best with your son's surgery. You are right about fishing and just be on the water. It tends to make us feel like kids again. See you both on the river.

Dan,
your family is in my prayers...

The courage it must take to be able to keep a sence of humor when a child is going through something as serious as that...

Man, I just can't imagine...

Dan, my best wishes for a succesful outcome and a lifetime fishing partner.

Dan,
That's pretty heavy stuff and having 2 kids myself, fortunatly healthy(to date), it's hard to imagine being in your shoes.

We'll be thinking of you guys and know that the next recordbreaking sunny day is likely the day you and your son picked for your fishing trip.

Just doing something fun with dad is going to be his first choice.

How old is Drew?

Jeff

Thanks for the kinds words, guys.

Drew's 7, and taking it like a real man. We've been honest with him about the whole thing, and he's being a real trooper about it.

I'm hoping this ordeal won't happen for a couple months so I can get him out for some early summer steelhead. We'll see what the Doc says and go from there, I guess.

Thanks again...........no matter what happens on this BB, there are some very kind and thoughtful people here.

Dan,

I was thinking that "chicken soup for the soul" might also be prayer, so I hope you won't mind if I sent you, your wife and Drew some right now.

Father, thank you for the precious gift of time and the love that Dan and Drew were able to share together today. Times like these can never be taken away and that is how we know they are from you. Only you can bring this kind of joy and only you can heal, therefore we humbly ask you for all the strength, courage and love that will be needed by Dan's entire family to go through the trials that are before them. Lord let your peace, which surpasses all understanding, flow through this family like a river to bring healing and draw them closer together in you.

God Bless.

When my son was 15 he weighed 205 pounds and was 5'10" tall. In the fall of that year he played varsity football and was turning out for the wrestling team. We noticed suddenly that he appetite was gone and he always wanted to sleep. I thought that he was just going through another growth spurt however, Mom said something was wrong. Five Doctors and $15,000. (with good heath insurance) later he weighed 117 pounds and was finally diagnosed correctly at the U of W. He had Krohn's disease.

In June of that year he was feeling well enough to go springer fishing. We hired a guide and fished for springers. He caught the first fish of the day which weighed about 38 lbs. While he was fighting the fish he told me that he didn't feel strong enough to bring the fish in and I said, "Well I'll have to cut your line". He quickly found the strength to reel that one in. He then tied into four other fish, a 32 and a 27 lb springer and two steelhead. I had not touched a fish all day. I finally offered to reel one in for him and he said "Naw that's alright Dad, I think I'm strong enough to bring all of them in." I finally hit a 22 pound springer at the take-out. My son Randy seemed to turn around that day.

By the way, Don Kinsey has the trip documented on his fishing brochure.

He has had some bouts with the Krohn's since then but he is now a healthy 30 year old firefighter today, married to a wonderful woman and we just celebrated his daughter's one - year birthday last month.

So I agree with you that fishing is chicken soup for the soul. My son is still my fishing buddy and I'm looking forward to the day that I can take my grandson and grandaughters steelhead fishing.

I will remember your family in prayer. I hope you too can experience what I have found with my son.


Captain

When my son was 15 he weighed 205 pounds and was 5'10" tall. In the fall of that year he played varsity football and was turning out for the wrestling team. We noticed suddenly that he appetite was gone and he always wanted to sleep. I thought that he was just going through another growth spurt however, Mom said something was wrong. Five Doctors and $15,000. (with good heath insurance) later he weighed 117 pounds and was finally diagnosed correctly at the U of W. He had Krohn's disease.

In June of that year he was feeling well enough to go springer fishing. We hired a guide and fished for springers. He caught the first fish of the day which weighed about 38 lbs. While he was fighting the fish he told me that he didn't feel strong enough to bring the fish in and I said, "Well I'll have to cut your line". He quickly found the strength to reel that one in. He then tied into four other fish, a 32 and a 27 lb springer and two steelhead. I had not touched a fish all day. I finally offered to reel one in for him and he said "Naw that's alright Dad, I think I'm strong enough to bring all of them in." I finally hit a 22 pound springer at the take-out. My son Randy seemed to turn around that day.

By the way, Don Kinsey has the trip documented on his fishing brochure.

He has had some bouts with the Krohn's since then but he is now a healthy 30 year old firefighter today, married to a wonderful woman and we just celebrated his daughter's one - year birthday last month.

So I agree with you that fishing is chicken soup for the soul. My son is still my fishing buddy and I'm looking forward to the day that I can take my grandson and grandaughters steelhead fishing.

I will remember your family in prayer. I hope you too can experience what I have found with my son.


Captain

Best wishes to you, your son and the rest of your family.

It's amazing how scared we can be as parents and the innocent child can be so strong and show us the way to handle the situation.. None of us knows what tomorrow brings, all we really have is today. If we could learn to enjoy each minute as it's given to us without regard to yesterday or tomorrow we could be more like the children. Good Luck Dan, keep us posted on when.

You are right about kids setting examples for us adults when it comes to perserverence,patience and simplicity.

I hope everything comes out for the best. Those kids grow into adults too fast. Make every day count and fish whenever you can.

Amen, Mooch
In our prayers Dan, give Drew a big ole hug from Talljeeper!!
Paul

Best wishes to you, your wife and to Drew. From what I've seen and read on this board, if he's anything like his Dad, he is gonna be all right.

Isn't it amazing how a child can make you realize what's really important in life?

Never pass a day up to take a kid fishing....

Kev

Dan, The best to you and son I hope you have many more fishing trips. I grew up in a insane and vioilent houshold the only place I could find any peace was fishing.

"Nature is the one place where miracles not only happen, but happen all the time" Thomas Wolfe

Regards Ibjamin

Good luck, I hope it's routine.

My nephew had the same procedure done a couple of years ago. He sailed through it with flying colors. I gotta good feeling your son Drew will also Dan. Best wishes.

Our best wishes to Drew and the rest of the DanS family. Can't say that I know what your family is going through, but as a parent, I bet I can kinda guess.

I'll be on the boat next week, so hopefully, Stlhdr1 and I can take your mind off of things by getting you in to some fish. Looking forward to meeting TD and having a good day on the river next week.

Best wishes and great fishes to you and Drew. My prayers are with you and your family.

I have the distinct feeling that you and your son are in very good and capable hands.

Very nice, Mooch.