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Jay Rogers with parents
Tim and Wendy Rogers. TRENTON
(October 30) West Carroll sophomore Jay
Rogers has been awarded a "Catch-A-Dream"
hunting trip.
Catch-A-Dream grants once-in-a-lifetime
outdoor experiences to children 18-years-old
or younger who have a life-threatening
illness.
Jay is a two-year cancer survivor who has
experienced a bone marrow transplant. He
found out during a recent check up at
Memphis St. Jude that another tumor is
located on his lung. The tumor, which was
removed, is Ewing's Sarcoma, a form of
cancer that is a common name for primitive
neuroectodermal tumor. It is a rare disease
in which cancer cells are found in the bone
or in soft tissue.
The most common areas in which it occurs
are the pelvis, the femur, the humerus, and
the ribs. James Ewing (1866-1943) first
described the tumor, establishing that the
disease was separate from lymphoma and other
types of cancer known at that time. Ewing's
sarcoma occurs most frequently in male
teenagers. Ewing's sarcoma is the result of
a translocation between chromosomes 11 and
22, which fuses the EWS gene of chromosome
22 to the FLI1 gene of chromosome 11.
Jay's recent tumor was about the size of
a walnut on his lung and all the margins
around the tumor were healthy tissue. The
best news is the test showed that his bone
marrow is free of any tumor cells. Since Jay
has relapsed two years from first diagnosis
they expect him to do better than a patient
that relapses sooner. The family stated that
it would be a tough battle for a cure now,
but they are optimistic.
The plan for Jay is a six-month regiment
of chemo treatments, then radiation with
more chemo being discussed among his
doctors. Final decisions will come after
scans in another month.
Catch-A-Dream's singular purpose is to
provide consumptive use outdoor experiences
to fill the "gap" created when the
Make-A-Wish Foundation established national
policy that precludes granting a child a
wish that involves hunting or use of
"...firearms, hunting bows, or other hunting
or sport-shooting equipment." When
battling cancer, Bruce Brady, noted
outdoorsman, author and sculptor drew
strength and hope from his beloved outdoors
experiences. During the last days of his
personal struggle with cancer he was deeply
concerned that the world's largest
children's wish granting organization had
established national policy that created a
glaring gap in its service to qualifying
children. Thus, one segment of the
qualifying child population would no longer
be able to realize their greatest dream; a
dream that Bruce and countless outdoorsmen
considered worthy and appropriate. He
envisioned a program that would fill this
service gap and provide life-changing
hunting and fishing experiences for children
facing life-threatening illness at a time
when "....these children need to know that
hope does, indeed, exist." Although Bruce
did not survive long enough to accomplish
anything beyond sharing his vision with
friends and family, the program was created
a few months after his death in 2000 by some
of those same friends and family members.
Ultimately, in 2003, the Catch-A-Dream
Foundation was chartered to provide a home
specifically to support the Program by the
same name. On each trip, the children and
the family members who accompany them, are
surrounded by outdoors-minded people who
understand that these children are often
"...sick and tired of being sick and tired!"
A designated Catch-A-Dream host accompanies
each family and, together with outfitters
and local volunteers, facilitate their dream
experience, love and nurture them through
the strong personal relationships that
inevitably are forged in the lodge, on the
stream or in the woods. Hosts and volunteers
often become their best friends, and remain
a part of their families long after the
dream trip has concluded. As one volunteer
eloquently stated, "We can't change the
whole world; but we can change someone's
whole world for at least a short period!"
Many parents have confirmed that the mission
is consistently accomplished!
Jay and his family departs from Memphis
on November 10, first flying into Denver,
Colorado, and then flying into Gillette,
Wyoming. The following morning the family
travels several miles out into the mountains
to hunt bull elk with great expectations of
a successful hunt. Jay is scheduled to spend
several days hunting in the vast mountain
range while the last couple days of the trip
the family is taking a guided sightseeing
tour, visiting Mount Rushmore and the Crazy
Horse memorial to name a few. The
Catch-A-Dream coordinator has promised the
Rogers family a trip they will never forget
and they are looking forward to it.
Following the hunt, the Catch-a-Dream
organization is also going to shoulder mount
the elk and process the meat and send it to
the Rogers. The family returns to Memphis on
November 19. Jay is feeling fairly well now
following recent treatments, but is expected
to feel great for the trip. Jay sharpened
his hunting skills this past weekend.
Following a round of chemo, Jay went into
the woods and killed two does.
For those interested in the Catch-A-Dream
program:
Who can refer a child for a wish?
Children who may be eligible to receive a
dream can be referred by many sources, but
ultimately the child's parents or legal
guardian must approve the submission of an
application. 1. Medical or social
professionals treating the child 2. A
parent or legal guardian
3. The child 4. Friends or family
members Who is eligible for a dream?
Any child, 18 years old or younger, who is a
U.S. or Canadian citizen, has a qualifying
physician-certified life-threatening
illness, and has not had another hunting or
fishing grant, is eligible for
consideration.
How can I refer a child? Anyone
wishing to refer a child for a dream, may
use the online dream referral form (PDF or
Microsoft Word format, print out and fax or
mail to us) or contact: Dr. Marty Brunson
Board Chairman
PO Box 6280
Mississippi State, MS 39762 or Tatum
Freeman
Board Associate
PO Box 6280
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-8149
Fax: (662) 325-8407
Email: martyb@ext.msstate.edu |
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