16 year old Lionel is in a dogfight with the bandit Myxopapillary ependymoma (MEPN) Stage 2 Spinal Cancer
Grouper and Mahi, Kingfish, some Amberjack as well
Big Fish, Great Time, and surely Lionel will smell!
Off to Venice to be on a boat,
Not in Italy silly, but Florida, afloat
TNT and heavy tackle await
Hooks for the fish, they will not abrogate
Captain Tom and mate Trisha will treat you like a king
You’ll be Deep Sea Fishing on a linguistic string!

Lionel and his family left Colorado Springs for the Florida Gulf Coast, Venice to be exact.
Lionel had never, ever, not even nevr flown before!

First up for the family, was the Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour on Lido Key. and paddling through the winding tunnels cut through the mangroves. Through Ted Sperling Park and the maze of mangrove tunnels and the perfect habitat for this young feller to see so much wildlife. Beautiful shorebirds, invertebrates, fish, dolphins and manatees, no gators though because of the salt water.

Now for the five star shipshape stuff!!! Lionel wanted to go deep sea fishing, but before his trip, he mentioned to his Mom that he would love to get baptized in the ocean.

Praise the Lord for Lionel’s faith in Jesus Christ!

A brobdingnagian, bunyanesque, thanks to Captain Tom Bailas, his prodigious first mate (wife) Tricia and TNT Fishing Charters, not only for the celebrated, masterful day of fishing and the baptism, but for donating 100% of the adventure to Brave Young Hearts. Tom and Tricia y’all are an incredible, sublime BLESSING!!

Next day was a beach day in the sand and surf to just relax! Soak up the sun. Breathe the salty air. Feel the breeze. Build sandcastles, and enjoy the soft and, rolling waves for the very first time! Just another day in paradise, for a rookie

Following the good vibes & high tides, a day of coral reef snorkeling at Siesta Key for the family with a private charter. Reef sharks were waiting!! Clownfish, angelfish, starfish, dolphins, sea turtles too!

To see the vastness of the sea, the beautiful sunsets, to listen to the roar of the waves, and the joy and calmness they bring, to have enjoyed the bounty of the Gulf so abundantly, to have made new friends in Christ, to share this newcomer’s experience with family…PRICELESS!!!

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