|
Detroit Free Press, August 18, 2005 THE FISH OF HIS DREAMS
No one in the family knows why 6-year-old Kevin Husky is such a fishing nut. "None of us fished," said his mom, Sue, who lives with her son and husband, Paul, in Avon, Ohio. "But ever since he was 3, he's had this passion for fishing. Other kids would watch cartoons on TV. He'd watch fishing shows." As one of those lucky people like Kevin, I know why. You're born, you wander around awhile wondering deep thoughts like, "Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? Can I con Grandpa into buying me some candy?" Then someone puts a fishing rod in your hands, an amazing sensation spreads through you and you think: "Now I understand!" Yep, people who get that fishing gene are fortunate. But life also deals some hands that are hard to play, and Kevin Husky drew one early in the form of a medulloblastoma, a particularly nasty kind of cancer that grew a life-threatening tumor the size of a tennis ball in his small head. He survived brain surgery last winter and began a rugged regimen of chemotherapy that statistics say should keep him cancer-free. And when his parents asked what he would like as a reward for being such a tough guy, his answer was: "I want to go muskellunge fishing on Lake St. Clair." The family contacted Hunt of a Lifetime, an organization in Harborcreek, Pa., that helps make such dreams a reality. The request went to Ted James of Belmont, whose 20-year-old son T.J. is a cancer survivor and Hunt of a Lifetime beneficiary. James has become active in the organization and arranged trips for a number of critically ill kids. James hooked up with Mike Pittiglio, who runs Muskie Mania charters aboard his 31-foot Sea Ray. Last week, with a little help from his dad, Kevin Husky landed four muskellunge, including a 42-incher that went about 20 pounds. "Mike and his friends couldn't have been nicer," Sue Husky said Wednesday as she prepared to take Kevin for another chemotherapy treatment. "They really worked hard all day. I bet they changed lures 100 times. " Pittiglio was helped by Mike Zainea of St. Clair Shores and Shimano tackle representative Eric Guider. "Originally, we were to come in July, when the fishing was better, but Paul couldn't get the vacation time," Sue Husky said. "I understand that when we came in August, the fishing wasn't anywhere as good, but they all got some, and Kevin was just ecstatic." Pittiglio is the father of a 1-year-old. "I just can't imagine what it must be like to be told your kid has cancer," he said. "I was kind of worried before we went out because we had a northeast cold front come through with high winds, and that can shut down fishing. But we had a great day." Ted James said that when Hunt of a Lifetime called him, "I just happened to be reading the outdoor section of the Detroit Free Press, and I figured we could make this happen on Lake St. Clair." Hunt of a Lifetime sent about 100 kids on hunting and fishing trips last year and could have sent others had more money been available. "Unfortunately," James said, "there's no shortage of sick children."
Pittiglio can be reached at 586-260-4068 or online at www.muskiemaniacharters.com. Hunt of a Lifetime can be reached at www.huntofalifetime.org . Contact ERIC SHARP at 313-222-2511 or esharp@freepress.com |
|
|
|
|