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Dawson is a 14 year old Calgarian. He is one of four in his family and has a twin, Evan. Mom and Dad have raised the boys to be hard core hockey fans. Their passion for the sport rivals that of the most fanatic. Dawson was recently diagnosed with Wegener’s Granulomatosis, a rare vasculitis. It is highly unusual for a teen to contract the disease as it typically occurs in middle to late age. Treatment can be difficult and medication side effects dramatic. Although the disease can manifest itself in virtually any part of the body, in Dawson’s case it has affected his kidneys. Dawson has bravely begun aggressive treatment with the hope that it will drive the disease into remission and offset impending renal failure.
Upon introduction we immediately spoke about the prospects of getting Dawson and his family out to see an NHL playoff game. Thanks to the support of an anonymous stakeholder we were introduced to the Sales and Marketing team for the Anaheim Ducks. Our luck could not be any better as Dawson is a huge fan. Arrangements were quickly made to have the family travel to California for games 3 & 4 of the Conference Finals against Detroit. As the details were being worked out, the Ducks became more familiar with Dawson’s family and his battle with Wegener’s. Even though their team’s resources were stretched, they looked for additional ways to add value to Dawson’s experience. At the last minute, the family was invited to attend a closed practice session between games. It was at that time that Dawson met many players including Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne. Dawson was beside himself; he never expected to meet two of his hockey heroes. The family had such a memorable experience, and the fact that the Ducks won the Stanley Cup only a few games later makes it that much more special.
Dawson continues to battle his disease and looks forward to future hockey seasons. He has played AAA Bantam as starting goalie for a team in Calgary, and aspires to go pro one day, but he has had to put playing on hold due to his illness. This wish has meant a lot to him in many different ways. He and his family are deeply appreciative of all that volunteers, donors and stakeholders have done to make his heartfelt wish a reality.
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