Trojan Wish: Dakota Garske
November 12, 2019 | Football, Trojan Outreach, Features
Imagine if everyone in the world operated with an optimistic, "it's probably fine" perspective. Would they be as inspiring as Dakota Garske? Maybe not quite, but it would be a great start.
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Garske served our country for over a year in the United States Navy before being put on medical leave. He spent the better part of his time in Groten, Conn. in submarine school. But on Tuesday, June 11, 2018, Garske was rushed to the emergency room.
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A CT scan revealed that he had a mass on his brain that would later be identified as a stage IV Glioblastoma brain tumor. Garske is currently receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments daily at the University of California, Irvine Health Center.
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His mother, Tonya Garske, continuously reinforces her son's positive outlook on life. "We don't dwell on the what-ifs; we choose hope every day," she said. "We always take things one day at a time."
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Dakota took a break from fighting his battle to Fight On as the latest Trojan Wish honoree when USC hosted Oregon. Aside from the field visit, the part that was most memorable for Garske was walking down the stairs to get to the field. He couldn't even put into words how special it made him feel.
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His presence was a gift for all of the Trojan Outreach team, especially this close to Veterans Day. While everyone in his family is a huge USC fan, Dakota made everyone who came in contact with him a huge fan of him. His mother believes that the Navy played a huge role in his optimistic, perseverant personality.
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"The honor, courage and commitment that the US Navy teach starting in boot camps has significantly helped him process, treat and maintain a positive course of action in his battle with brain cancer," said Tonya.
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It's not often that individuals get a chance to meet a Navy veteran who have fought for so much. While he did fight for our country, he also continues his battle every single day and inspires countless people in the process. USC was lucky to fight on with such a shining light in our community and our country.
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Garske served our country for over a year in the United States Navy before being put on medical leave. He spent the better part of his time in Groten, Conn. in submarine school. But on Tuesday, June 11, 2018, Garske was rushed to the emergency room.
Â
A CT scan revealed that he had a mass on his brain that would later be identified as a stage IV Glioblastoma brain tumor. Garske is currently receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments daily at the University of California, Irvine Health Center.
Â
His mother, Tonya Garske, continuously reinforces her son's positive outlook on life. "We don't dwell on the what-ifs; we choose hope every day," she said. "We always take things one day at a time."
Â
Dakota took a break from fighting his battle to Fight On as the latest Trojan Wish honoree when USC hosted Oregon. Aside from the field visit, the part that was most memorable for Garske was walking down the stairs to get to the field. He couldn't even put into words how special it made him feel.
Â
His presence was a gift for all of the Trojan Outreach team, especially this close to Veterans Day. While everyone in his family is a huge USC fan, Dakota made everyone who came in contact with him a huge fan of him. His mother believes that the Navy played a huge role in his optimistic, perseverant personality.
Â
"The honor, courage and commitment that the US Navy teach starting in boot camps has significantly helped him process, treat and maintain a positive course of action in his battle with brain cancer," said Tonya.
Â
It's not often that individuals get a chance to meet a Navy veteran who have fought for so much. While he did fight for our country, he also continues his battle every single day and inspires countless people in the process. USC was lucky to fight on with such a shining light in our community and our country.
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