We’ve got a boat to build.
Fishing surely is a top priority right now because this is our high season but it’s also the right time to meet ten year old Gabe Littlefield. Gabe’s a cool kid with a cool Dad who takes his kids and lots of people fishing. Gabe has developed a health issue requiring lots of time and money so now we need to give the Littlefield family a little of both.
And it doesn’t matter if you know him or his Dad but I promise you, retelling how you helped Gabe kick the crap out of cancer just may be your favorite fish story of the year.
Days precious days
Gabe has an exceedingly rare case of osteosarcoma which translates roughly into a general pain in the bones requiring, as his family wrote, “both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Treatment will include monthly stays at the hospital as he will also need multiple surgeries to remove and repair the damaged bone.”
Roll in and out like waves
That’s a lot for a young man who should be focused on easier horizons, like catching fluke and maybe playing video games.
I got boards to bend I got planks to nail
If you’re on the downhill side of grey like me, you’d give just about anything to be ten again and even more to be ten without a worry.
I got charts to make I got seas to sail
He has whole world before him; there’s all that running and chasing, that laughing and dreaming, all that focus on fun which doesn’t consider tomorrow because when you’re young, tomorrow is such a given. What’s given now is that Gabe has some challenges and his family needs our help.
Let the chips fall where they will
Gabe’s Dad is Mike Littlefield, owner and captain of ArchAngel Charters in Portsmouth. He runs a 28 foot Hydra-Sports center console for charters targeting stripers, bluefish, black sea bass, tuna and anything that swims. He gives back by offering a 15 percent discount to military veterans because that’s what good people do. He’s a tugboat captain by trade so he knows the sea and how to navigate it. Navigating the challenges of cancer is a whole different deal but he’s got support.
That’s Gabe on the right, with his soon to be little brother
Have you shared this with Neal Vitullo also a musician & fish boat capt and Mike Geary running for Rep district 38…Westerly Salt Water Fisherman Assoc ??? I’m sure they’d love to help. Neal plays at that Beachcomber place in Portsmouth I believe. Mike can be reached on FB…Michael Geary.
Thank you Rick, I wasn’t really involved with the fundraiser, other than arranging for a donation and writing the story (there’s one more coming this Friday) but I’d be more than happy to pass the info along. I’m friends with Michael Geary and have crossed paths with Neil since way, way back so I’ll reach out to both. Thanks for reading the story and for the suggestions.