Make-A-Wish mom competes at Women's Championships
April 23, 2015
By Wishelle Banks
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Even an injury couldn't keep Veronica Johnson of Fremont, California, from making a trip to compete at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The 46-year-old right-hander was sidelined five months ago by a torn ligament on the top of her right ankle, but she refused to let her Head of Hair 2 teammates down or miss the action on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium this week.
Each time Johnson takes the lanes, it also gives her a chance to remember and recognize her son, Dylan, who died from a rare disease when he was just 2 years old.
Dylan was born in 1998, and before they were able to take him home from the hospital, it was discovered that he had a condition known as Ivemark Syndrome, a disorder that affects organ systems and led to four heart surgeries for Dylan.
Not knowing how long they had with their son, Johnson and her husband, Frank, contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, hoping they could do something special for Dylan. Her inquiry led to an opportunity for their son to meet Mickey Mouse, and the whole experience opened Johnson's eyes to the reach of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"By doing that, it opened my eyes to an organization that really does give back to the community and the world," said Johnson, a territory manager for Waterlogic West in Concord, California, who also is a caregiver for her grandmother. "You can't explain the power of a wish. His wish was to meet Mickey Mouse. We met Mickey Mouse on July 17, and Dylan died on July 27."
Two months after their anguishing loss, the Johnsons turned their grief into the catalyst for a pay-it-forward opportunity to ensure that other children with life-threatening illnesses ultimately could have their wishes fulfilled, too.
Johnson stepped up and created the Dylan Johnson Memorial Bowl-A-Thon to Benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an annual event held each October at Fremont's Cloverleaf Family Bowl.
Their first event in 2000 raised $3,000, and last year's event raised $42,000 in one day. To-date, the Johnsons have raised $294,000 for the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.
On the lanes at the NBS this week, Johnson and her doubles partner, 55-year-old Iris Luckey of Richmond, California, wore special Make-A-Wish shirts provided by National Hot Rod Association driver Tommy Johnson Jr., who drives the Make-A-Wish car in the NHRA's Funny Car category.
The shirts attracted plenty of attention and comments from USBC Women's Championships bowlers.
"Last year, Iris said we should try to get some Make-A-Wish shirts," Johnson said. "I actually wrote to him on his website and explained that I'm a Make-A-Wish mom, I lost a son and I wanted to bowl in memory of Dylan, while representing Make-A-Wish. He didn't even hesitate - Schumacher Racing provided us with our Make-A-Wish shirts."
Bowling is a lifelong passion for Johnson and now is a way to stay connected with her son. She's still competitive on the lanes and has expanded her role with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Johnson is an official wish granter, who sits on the MAW Advisory Board and enjoys the opportunity to help other people's wishes come true.
While competing in the 2015 Women's Championships, Johnson battled through the pain of her ankle injury and only was able to complete three games, shooting 155, 159 and 188 for a 502 series. She helped Head of Hair 2 into ninth place in Ruby Team with a 1,928 total, but she was forced to withdraw from doubles and singles.
While cheering on her teammates at the NBS, Johnson's focus already has turned to the 2016 Women's Championships at the new South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
A trip to the doctor after returning home revealed a significant tear in the ligament, but Johnson says that won't keep her away from the championship lanes.
"My ankle will be ready," Johnson vowed, adjusting her jersey from Tommy Johnson Jr., whom she promised a photo from the Women's Championships. "Every year, this is our shirt. The response has been incredible. I'll be back. I'm not going anywhere. And, regardless if I can ever roll a ball again, I'll always be a Make-A-Wish mom."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.
USBC Communications
RENO, Nev. - Even an injury couldn't keep Veronica Johnson of Fremont, California, from making a trip to compete at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.
The 46-year-old right-hander was sidelined five months ago by a torn ligament on the top of her right ankle, but she refused to let her Head of Hair 2 teammates down or miss the action on the lanes at the National Bowling Stadium this week.
Each time Johnson takes the lanes, it also gives her a chance to remember and recognize her son, Dylan, who died from a rare disease when he was just 2 years old.
Dylan was born in 1998, and before they were able to take him home from the hospital, it was discovered that he had a condition known as Ivemark Syndrome, a disorder that affects organ systems and led to four heart surgeries for Dylan.
Not knowing how long they had with their son, Johnson and her husband, Frank, contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, hoping they could do something special for Dylan. Her inquiry led to an opportunity for their son to meet Mickey Mouse, and the whole experience opened Johnson's eyes to the reach of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"By doing that, it opened my eyes to an organization that really does give back to the community and the world," said Johnson, a territory manager for Waterlogic West in Concord, California, who also is a caregiver for her grandmother. "You can't explain the power of a wish. His wish was to meet Mickey Mouse. We met Mickey Mouse on July 17, and Dylan died on July 27."
Two months after their anguishing loss, the Johnsons turned their grief into the catalyst for a pay-it-forward opportunity to ensure that other children with life-threatening illnesses ultimately could have their wishes fulfilled, too.
Johnson stepped up and created the Dylan Johnson Memorial Bowl-A-Thon to Benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an annual event held each October at Fremont's Cloverleaf Family Bowl.
Their first event in 2000 raised $3,000, and last year's event raised $42,000 in one day. To-date, the Johnsons have raised $294,000 for the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.
On the lanes at the NBS this week, Johnson and her doubles partner, 55-year-old Iris Luckey of Richmond, California, wore special Make-A-Wish shirts provided by National Hot Rod Association driver Tommy Johnson Jr., who drives the Make-A-Wish car in the NHRA's Funny Car category.
The shirts attracted plenty of attention and comments from USBC Women's Championships bowlers.
"Last year, Iris said we should try to get some Make-A-Wish shirts," Johnson said. "I actually wrote to him on his website and explained that I'm a Make-A-Wish mom, I lost a son and I wanted to bowl in memory of Dylan, while representing Make-A-Wish. He didn't even hesitate - Schumacher Racing provided us with our Make-A-Wish shirts."
Bowling is a lifelong passion for Johnson and now is a way to stay connected with her son. She's still competitive on the lanes and has expanded her role with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Johnson is an official wish granter, who sits on the MAW Advisory Board and enjoys the opportunity to help other people's wishes come true.
While competing in the 2015 Women's Championships, Johnson battled through the pain of her ankle injury and only was able to complete three games, shooting 155, 159 and 188 for a 502 series. She helped Head of Hair 2 into ninth place in Ruby Team with a 1,928 total, but she was forced to withdraw from doubles and singles.
While cheering on her teammates at the NBS, Johnson's focus already has turned to the 2016 Women's Championships at the new South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas.
A trip to the doctor after returning home revealed a significant tear in the ligament, but Johnson says that won't keep her away from the championship lanes.
"My ankle will be ready," Johnson vowed, adjusting her jersey from Tommy Johnson Jr., whom she promised a photo from the Women's Championships. "Every year, this is our shirt. The response has been incredible. I'll be back. I'm not going anywhere. And, regardless if I can ever roll a ball again, I'll always be a Make-A-Wish mom."
Visit us on Facebook at the official USBC Open/Women's Championships page.