Baysox go vintage to help modern cause By DAVID EMANUEL Editor
The Baysox game Sunday promises to be a heavy-hitting one.
Half of the proceeds at the game will go toward a young child named Dillon Papier. His grandmother, Maris Walker, of Bowie, one of the coordinators of the event, said the community spirit of Bowie has always been a home run for her grandson.
Dillon has Niemann-Pick disease Type C, an extremely rare, devastating and always fatal disease that has affected only 500 children worldwide.
The symptoms include enlarged spleen and liver, and perhaps the most tragic of all, loss of muscle control, deterioration of speech, seizures and progressive neurological and intellectual decline.
Doctors sometimes refer to Niemann-Pick as a child's form of Alzheimer's disease.
Soon, it is likely Dillon won't be able to recognize his grandmother, or anyone else in his life.
Many children die before age 10.
Dillon will be 6 in August.
"He has started kindergarten as a special education student and is still as happy, funny, joyous and loving as ever," said Walker. "He loves music, art and most especially PE. He is so athletic."
As much as his coordination allows.
Because of the neurological problems this disease causes, he has a very difficult time concentrating on learning to read, doing math, spelling and other studies deemed "normal for his age."
Dillon is in a worldwide study for Niemann-Pick disease at NIH which requires him to go there once a year for three days for what Walker calls "very intensive and invasive testing," which includes a spinal tap, MRI and blood work, to name just three.
"And Dillon is a wonderful and charming patient," she said. "The doctors just love him as we do. We pray through this study that a cure can be found."
What has definitely been found is constant love and support from the Bowie community and friends, family and neighbors statewide.
The Papier family (mom Darrile, dad Mark and son Dillon) lives in Frederick. A golf benefit was held in the fall for Dillon - a silent auction and dinner which was well-attended with much generosity.
A miraculous $50,000 was raised in Dillon's honor.
"No one expected that amount," said Walker. "We are all still in shock and so very grateful and appreciative. All the money was donated for research in Dillon's name. One of his doctors from Johns Hopkins came and spoke as well as a member of the Chamber of Commerce on the behalf of what the neighbors have been doing on a steady basis to help my family."
Darrile, a 1981 graduate of Bowie High School, said she knows her hometown community will be there for her and her child as they have the past three years with the Baysox.
And Sunday at 2:05 p.m., Bowie can again help the family as they have the past two years at this event. Once again, half of the proceeds go to Niemann-Pick.
Tickets are $14. For information, call 301-464-8935 or 301-529-6481. A special vintage game at 1 p.m. will feature the teams dressed in the 1890s style of baggy uniforms and no gloves and play three innings of old-time baseball.
Interesting fact: In those days they let the ball hit the ground once and then caught it for an out.
And like Dillon and his family would tell you, there were plenty of times they felt there was no bounce left.
"It's so trying, for lack of a better word, on a daily basis to know and live with a terminally ill child," said Walker. "It's heartbreaking, and I can only imagine what my daughter and son-in-law go through over and over again each day."
Walker said Darrile is "so very strong and brave, and doesn't show the emotion of what she is feeling."
"She is so private as well, and has just recently come out about this disease in order to raise the awareness nationwide to get the attention that N-P has never attained."
Hopefully, the Baysox event will bring that much-needed local attention.
In addition to the vintage game, the Baysox will welcome the "Ultimate Abbott & Costello Tribute Show" to Prince George's Stadium. The Baltimore duo, Bill Riley (Abbott) and Joe Ziegler (Costello), will perform the hit rendition of the famous "Who's on First?" routine immediately following the vintage game.
For information, visit www.dillonsfight.org.
