Son Shannon

The column below originally appeared in late June, 2012. It is reprinted here in honor of the columnist’s son, who passed away this week.

It was summer 1979 while son Shannon was climbing the highest peak in Europe, the towering 15,781-foot Mont Blanc, when he gripped a climbing rope and couldn’t let go. His hands weren’t working properly.

Shannon’s letter gave Iris and me the first word there was something wrong with his muscle/nerve system. Only years later did he reveal he had noticed spasms during his infantry training in 1977, and then later in Italy, where he was on an Army ski team, participating in NATO maneuvers far above the Arctic Circle in Norway, and touring much of Europe and Northwest Africa.

The summer of 1980, Shan was discharged and worked for Glacier Park Boat Company as a captain at Many Glacier.

That fall, he enrolled at Montana State University. His muscle control was slowly ebbing and he was diagnosed at a muscular dystrophy center.

The doctors had bad news. He had myotonic dystrophy, which usually hits patients in their late teens or shortly afterward. The genetic affliction is progressive, has no cure, and would leave him increasingly handicapped; however, they felt it would be slow and he could carry on a near-normal life.

Shannon made a promise to himself to lead a productive life and remain cheerful and positive. He has done that in an amazing manner.

Early in his third year at Bozeman, his morale took a temporary slump, and I asked him to come home so we could work through it together.

The next fall he enrolled at U of M, closer to home, and got a job delivering bundles of university newspapers.

During summers, he hiked hundreds of miles with the Over The Hill Gang and climbed rough peaks.

By 1989, Shannon knew his years of being active were limited. He applied to the National Park Service and became a seasonal ranger in Yellowstone.

Shan began doing everything from breaking up bear jams to patrolling campgrounds, but when his physical ability became more restricted, he was given lighter duties at the entrance.

After five years, our family became concerned about his distance from home. With the help of a thoughtful superintendent, Shan was assigned to Glacier’s west gate.

He was there for five happy seasons before deciding he couldn’t be as effective as he desired, even though the administration urged him to stay. They had made a special walk so he could drive his motorized wheel chair to the bathroom.

Ever since he was a small boy, Shan enjoyed many camera adventures with his dad, so to help his career transition, we did the “Wondrous Wildlife” photo book.

After leaving the Park Service in late 2000, Shannon found some jobs in Kalispell, including night announcer at KOFI.

While still able to walk, he had taken a photo trip to Alaska, and later shared an unforgettable exploration of the rain forest and jungles of Costa Rica with his kid brother Clark and me.

He now has limited use of his hands and can only stand for a few seconds. Last month, he underwent kidney surgery, which further reduced his strength.

On June 14, Shannon moved into the Montana Veterans Home. He is adapting well to a new chapter in his courageous, productive and adventuresome life.

Knowing Shannon, he will make many new friends, browse the Internet on his computer, and continue adding to the wonders he has collected in his first 53 years.

G. George Ostrom is an award-winning columnist. He lives in Kalispell.