When Dakota was first confirmed with laryngeal paralysis shortly after his 10th birthday, I tried to compile a bucket list of all his unmet dreams. I quickly realized that Dakota lived every day of his life to its fullest and his bucket list would be to do everything over again.

Dakota and I hiked literally thousands of miles together throughout Washington and Canada. He swam in every lake, river, stream, creek and mud puddle within reach. Dakota believed all roads led to fun making every car trip a chariot ride to his dream world. In his early years, he enjoyed jogging, upland hunting, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sailing, boating, canoeing and was completely obsessed with the Chuckit. During our adventures, he was even offered the opportunity to bungee jump with me; Dakota declined, but never regretted it. As the years passed, his ball obsession never faded and we found less strenuous activities to satisfy his desires. Dakota and I spent every possible minute enjoying the outdoors; and even on his last good day enjoyed a hike at one of his many favorite lakes.

On 11/27/2015, Dakota leaped off my porch, didn't stick the landing and severely injured his Achilles tendon. The pain from his injury and deteriorating breathing became over whelming and he was set free on 12/6/2015.

You say the hill's too steep to climb
Chiding
You say you'd like to see me try
Climbing
You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb
The hill in my own way
Just wait a while for the right day
And as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds
I look down
Hear the sound of the things you said today
You’ll never walk alone
-Fearless by Pink Floyd

Kristin M.