Whirlwind Chicago trip for boy with cancer
How does one top a dream fishing and hunting trip? With a visit to the Chicago Blackhawks, of course.
Nine-year-old Adam Egerter and his family — parents Jay and Tanya, and older brother Christopher — embarked on a giant family road trip last week, heading to Missouri where they spent four days at Little Flex Creek Ranch where Adam could go on the ultimate outdoor adventure.
It was a trip organized through Catch-A-Dream, an organization that grants oncein-a-lifetime hunting and fishing experiences to children who have life-threatening illness.
Children like Adam, who has brain cancer. More specifically, medulloblastoma.
“Adam is an avid fisher, and his dad is a hunter,” said Tanya, noting that it was Adam’s wish to go on this trip. “It meant he could practise his hunting skills. He got to track a deer and harvest the deer.”
While Adam set out on his hunting adventure, Tanya said the rest of the family watched from the sidelines.
For the nine-year-old, his favourite part of the hunting adventure was getting to shoot the deer. His least favourite part? Walking miles through the bush.
“It really took a lot out of him,” said Tanya.
Following their stay at the ranch, the family headed to Chicago to see one of their favourite teams play in their home arena: the Chicago Blackhawks.
“(Jay) and the boys are all Chicago fans, so when we realized we’d be driving out for this trip, we decided to stop there for a game,” said Tanya.
When the community found out about the Egerters’ trip, they tried to help make it as special as possible.
Gina Brady, who knows the family through the boys’ school, Richmond Street Public School, reached out to the Blackhawks organization to see if the family could get to meet the team’s mascot. The team made that happen — and more.
On Thursday night, the Egerters attended the Chicago Blackhawks game and had the chance to go into the locker room, meet some of the players and get their autographs.
The coolest part for Adam? “When they scored,” he said. Seeing the locker room up close was pretty cool, too, he said, as well as getting to see the Blackhawks symbol on the carpet in person.
Another highlight was meeting several of the players — five from the Blackhawks and two from the visiting team, the Carolina Hurricanes, as well as Chicago head coach Rod Brind’Amour.
“It was amazing, we didn’t go there thinking we’d get to meet anyone. We just thought we were going to the game, so it was a nice surprise,” said Tanya.
The Egerters have been buoyed by community support since Adam’s diagnosis last March. This trip to Chicago was no different. In addition to Brady reaching out to the hockey organization, others helped to ensure the family had a great trip to the Windy City. They were given tickets to go up to the Skydeck observatory on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower.
When they arrived in the city, their hotel room was filled with special treats and snacks, and Brady had arranged for the family to go to a spy café in town, SafeHouse.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Adam over the phone from the hotel room in Chicago on Friday.