(Originally published Nov/Dec 2014)
By Capt. Tred Barta
I write this article as I am staring out at the Atlantic Ocean while sitting on the dock where I live in Islamorada, Fla. The wind is stiff and out of the east, it embraces me and steers me to the fact that I have nothing to hide. Everything within me wants to share.
It is a fact that 5-1/2 years ago I was struck down by a rare blood cancer called Waldenstrom’s. The short version of this tragedy is that within one week I lost all feelings in my left and my right leg followed. After four months in the hospital the paralysis stopped just below my chest. I am technically a T4 A, according to the American Spinal Injury Association.
Although there is a lot of worldwide chatter that someday I will walk again, the reality is I will be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I have spent almost five decades trolling blue water and my modus operandi has always been “Do It the Hard Way the Barta Way,” ”Never Give Up Never Say Never,” be the most you can be every day and never miss the opportunity to help someone else. These words have always been easy for me to say because I have had the guts, strength, money and the health to follow through with these slogans which I truly believe. Now in a wheelchair it is much harder.
Along with more than 100 sponsors I am closing in on raising more than $2 million for charity. These by the way were two fishing tournaments that people said no one would come and no one would fish.
Now I am faced with the greatest decision I have
