Last weekend we had the opportunity to spend time in the field with 20 year old Stevie from North Idaho.

Stevie spent nearly a year fighting through treatment after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Three months of that time was spent in Seattle where he was treated at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Fred Hutch Cancer Center. The remaining seven months of his treatment took place at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane.

During that time Stevie leaned heavily on his family, especially his sisters. He lived with one of them throughout his treatment because he was simply too sick to take care of himself. His sisters showed up constantly, visiting him through hospital stays and every round of chemotherapy. As Stevie put it, they basically kept him alive and he does not believe he could have made it through treatment without them.

Just a few months ago Stevie received the incredible news that he is currently cancer free.

Despite everything he has been through, Stevie carries himself with a quiet humility that is hard to describe unless you have spent time with him. He is kind, soft spoken, incredibly thankful, and eager to learn.

I first learned about Stevie after seeing a post from his sister. Something about his story stuck with me, so I decided to reach out to him directly. When I called, he was shocked. He had never imagined someone would offer him the chance to go on a hunt.

Stevie has always looked up to his older brother, who is an avid hunter. Joining him on a hunt had always been something Stevie dreamed about but had never been able to experience. He had completed hunter safety and spent time learning about hunting, but had never had the chance to take a big game animal.

His brother had originally planned to come on the hunt with him, but a last minute change meant he couldn’t make it. Stevie didn’t hesitate though. He was excited to continue on his own and make the most of the opportunity.

After returning home from treatment, Stevie recently started a new job. Because of that, the window to make this hunt happen was incredibly tight and he could only get away for a weekend. But we made the most of it! 

Over the course of the two day hunt in Western Washington, Stevie had the chance to watch two large herds of elk doing what they do best this time of year, feeding nonstop. Watching the excitement on his face as he saw elk in their natural setting with a tag in his pocket for the first time was something none of us will forget.

When the opportunity finally came, the shot was 280 yards. Stevie settled into the prone position and handled the moment like a seasoned hunter. He never lost his composure and never let the adrenaline get the best of him. He cycled the rifle smoothly, got right back on target between shots, and made three excellent shots to finish the job cleanly.

For someone with limited rifle experience and no prior big game hunting background, it was incredibly impressive to watch.

One of the things that stood out most about Stevie throughout the entire weekend was his attitude. He was constantly thankful just to be there. He listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and soaked up every bit of the experience.

After the hunt, once we had the elk quartered and loaded into coolers on ice in his vehicle, Stevie surprised me. He walked over and gave me a hug and thanked me for the opportunity.

That moment stuck with me. It reminded me just how lucky we are to be able to do this for kids who truly appreciate it.

With Stevie following a strict carnivore diet, this elk will also provide an incredible source of clean, organic meat for him and his family.

We want to give a huge thank you to guide and Vice President Tino Villaluz, guide and volunteer Jeff Kunkel, and Founder and President Conlan McConnell for making this hunt possible.

We are also incredibly grateful to the local landowners who generously allowed us access to their property and to WDFW for continuing to create opportunities like this for our kids.

A special thank you as well to The Little Butcher Shop in Sagle, Idaho for generously donating the butchering for Stevie’s elk. 

And on a personal note, I am incredibly thankful for my wife Hannah, who holds down the fort at home with our toddler and works weekends so I am able to be out guiding these kids on occasion. None of this would be possible without her support.

Stevie has already faced more than most people his age ever will, but his attitude, gratitude, and quiet strength left a lasting impression on everyone who spent time with him. We are incredibly proud of him and grateful we had the chance to share this experience together.

These moments don’t happen on their own. They happen because people step up. If you believe kids like Stevie deserve experiences like this, consider donating or getting involved with Outdoor Dreams.