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Dante and Ace
By Billie McCluskey
Dante first met Ace after he sang at the Colorado Crush Arena football game. Dante and I attended the game and were fortunate enough to meet Ace at the Pepsi Center’s Blue Sky Grill after the contest. Dante was an Americal Idol watcher and had helped support our local hero throughout the American Idol competition. He was thrilled to get to meet him and talk to him, and by the time we left they seemed to be best buddies!
Little did we know that just over a week later Dante would become very ill. A sore wrist which turned out to be broken had initially led us to the local emergency room for X-rays. He was also feeling quite sick to his stomach so an MRI was performed that revealed several health issues of concern. He was taken to Children’s Hospital in Denver and underwent an appendectomy as well as surgery on his kidney to correct a previously undiagnosed birth defect. Subsequently he had to undergo two more procedures on his kidney over the summer…one was even partially performed by a robot! To say that this was not a great summer for him would be an understatement. However, Dante bounced back, and with his friends helped man a Children’s Miracle Network booth at two fundraising events in September, 2006. Now that Ace has started Highrollers with Heart, he is ready to help in any way he can. He can testify first-hand that Children’s Hospital is an incredible place with amazing people.
The highlight of his year was the September 5th concert in Denver. A friend from New York who knew of his challenges was kind enough to give Dante a seat in the 13th row for the concert. It was a night to remember as Ace performed to his family, friends, and local followers. I was able to take Dante’s beanie to the Herman’s Hideaway show after the concert and get it signed for him. Both the beanie and the picture proudly hang in Dante’s room. Best of all, Dante has become a huge fan of Nicholas (another Highrollers with Heart “Young One”) and hopes to meet him in the future!
