Fishing on a Dock with Love and Memories

Before their adoptive grandfather passed away more than a year ago, brothers Dashawn and Cody, now aged 12 and 13, used to fish every weekend with him at the Lake Jocomo Marina in Blue Springs, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City.

Dashawn and Cody were the perfect pair for Dennis Gurnsey’s Gift of a Day. The Crossroads in Kansas City patient who had owned a small business that sold mining and construction products, also of Blue Springs, wanted to give back by sharing his love of the outdoors with children.

With a tip from a foster parent agency, Crossroads found Dashawn and Cody and planned the fishing outing for them with Dennis. It was the brothers’ first opportunity to use their grandfather’s bait box and fishing gear since he had passed, making the day that much more special to them.

A helpful and gregarious Marina manager encouraged conversation amongst the group and got the worms on the fishing hooks. Beautiful spring weather, Dennis’ Crossroads care team, Dashawn and Cody’s adopted mother and grandmother and delicious sandwiches for lunch on the dock completed the picture. And before everyone went home, Dashawn caught a fish.