SIDNEY — If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
David Stammen, 16, son of Robin and Doug Stammen, a Hardin-Houston High School student fighting (and winning) Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, wished for a fishing trip to Lake Loramie State Park.
When the people at A Special Wish Foundation told David to think a little bigger, he suggested halibut fishing.
At a gathering on Sidney’s courtsquare on Thursday, David Seyer, executive director of A Special Wish Foundation, announced they made David’s wish come true, in a big way.
David and his family will leave Monday to go to Homer, Alaska, to spend a week deep sea fishing for halibut.
“We are told through the captain of the boat that it’s peak season for halibut fishing, they should get their allotment of four, over the two days of fishing, and they can catch halibut anywhere from 28 pounds to 150 pounds,” Seyer said.
Seyer, who grew up in Anna and graduated from Anna High School said, “I am really excited to be back home and to be able to do something that is really special to all of us, and that is to grant a wish to local children who have battled against a life threatening disorder.”
A Special Wish Foundation was founded in 1983 and has granted over 1,600 wishes to local children, he said.
“Our goal is to make sure we provide once in a life time experiences. And of the 1,600 wishes, what makes today even more exciting is that this is our very first trip to Alaska that we have granted,” Seyer said.
When they leave on Monday they’ll fly to Anchorage, then drive four and a half hours to Homer. Monday they’ll spend a night in a hotel, and Tuesday David and Doug will go out on a boat about 150 miles out into the Alaskan sea to where the peak halibut fishing is and spend all day fishing.
Robin and David’s sister, April, will move their stuff into a cabin that sits right at the base of a mountain where they will stay for the rest of the week. The cabin was donated by the owners for the special wish. On Wednesday the family will spend the entire day exploring the many things to see in Homer. On Thursday, Doug and David will go back out onto the boat for about a half day. While they’re out fishing Robin and April will get treated to a day at a resort spa. On Friday they will get the entire day to sight-see in Alaska, and will finally fly back late Friday night.
Doug said a few words for David in front of the crowd Thursday. “He didn’t really want to talk, but he wanted to thank everybody for their generosity, especially the Special Wish Foundation, prayers and all the rest. It’s been a long eight months for David, we’ve had a few bad months but the prayers are really what helped us out. David is now cancer free and he is ready to go back to school.”
David was diagnosed the week after Christmas last year, while he was a sophomore. School got put on hold so David could focus on getting better.
“I know David is getting back to normal because the normal bickering is going on in our house again,” Doug said.
Sidney Councilman Steve Wagner then read a proclamation from Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst declaring June 16, 2016, “A Special Wish for David Stammen Day” in the city of Sidney.
“We couldn’t do this without the generosity of the community,” Seyer said. “One hundred percent of the funding we raised through the community. And it’s through their support these wishes come through.”
