Years ago, Steve Hartman of CBS News used to have a segment on the evening news called “Everybody has a story.” He would throw a dart at a map of the United States, go to the town where the dart landed, and would then pick a name out of the phone book. He would call, and then go to their house to interview them. I made sure that I saw every interview that he did, because he was right—everybody does have a story.
This is Dan’s story.
The five questions interviews on Daily Kos are normally about someone in a political position, someone with a minor claim to fame in progressive circles, or someone who has made the news in some way. Today is a little different. I am interviewing Daniel O’Kane.
Dan is a former Marine who grew up on Madison’s north side. He and his wife, Laura, went to Madison East High School—she a member of the class of ‘82, with Dan graduating in 1985. Dan calls Laura his support and backbone for the last 28 years. After his stint as an 0341 mortarman in the Marines, Dan worked as a cook at O’s, his parents north side restaurant (which made a damn good breakfast). From there, he went to work at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, and that is where this story begins: Marines may be rough and tough on the outside, but under the right conditions, they can be—well, read on to find out.
Dan and Laura love to fish. During the summer his Facebook page is full of photo after photo of them out on the lake, holding the catch of the day. Last year Dan started making custom fishing rods and he now runs Uncle D's Custom Rods, LLC.
Dan’s day job is at the University of Wisconsin American Family Children’s Hospital—not as a doctor or nurse, but as one of the many unsung heroes who provide comfort and a sense of normalcy in a place where normal is often in short supply. This is the story of Dan and Josie, a young patient at the children’s hospital.
Dan, What do you do at UW Hospital?
I work in the American Family Children’s Hospital Farmer’s Market Cafe, which is near the main entrance to the children hospital.
How did you meet Josie?
Her mother stopped for a sandwich one day and was down in the dumps. I asked what was up and she said Josie had not eaten in three days. I called Josie over and asked if I could make her a special sandwich. I just interacted with her. Then she went and sat down and I asked her mom if she would eat a muffin if I threw it in the bag; she said she may. So off she went with a beef and cheese sandwich and a lemon poppy seed muffin. Fifteen minutes later Josie came back and said, "Thanks for the muffin, mister." We've been friends since.
Do you interact with all patients like that?
I interact with most of the parents and every child I can. I run the Farmer’s Market, a coffee and sandwich shop. I have one coworker and we try to greet all of the kids and families. We have a valet service and there is a gentleman that we call Santa’s little brother. Most of the kids know Andy by name and they all run to give him a hug when they see him. The kids are amazing. I've had four knee replacements since 2009 so I have pain every day, but when I see what the kids and their parents are going through I realize I don't have any issues. They have changed my life. Those kids are great.
What made Josie so special?
Her smile.
You made Josie a custom fishing rod. What made you think to do that?
She always has a smile on her face. One day she came in for a bone marrow transplant and she had no smile. I asked her what was the problem. She had no answer, so I asked her mother. Turned out she had to miss a fundraiser being held for her that weekend. The benefit was fishing for Josie—come to find out she loves to fish. So I took that a a sign that I needed to make her a rod.
What was Josie's reaction when you gave her the rod?
She was amazed. It was a big day for her. It was the last day of 20 straight days of radiation treatment. She had a smile that went from ear to ear.
In this world today—where we hear so much hate being spewed, when it seems that all hope is lost, you come across a story that gives you hope. Giving a little girl a fishing rod may not seem like a big deal, and you may have read this and wondered to yourself: why is this on the front page? It is just a fishing rod. But Dan and his act of kindness made that little girl’s day. He made her world just a little bit better.
As hard as it is for me to say this, this old Army engineer is going to start following an old Marine mortarman’s example, and try to spread acts of kindness when and where I can.
I will still call him a jarhead, though.