BOISE, Idaho — Fishing has provided me with so many awesome memories and unforgettable catches — it has been one of the great joys of my life.
But a recent catch in my family has become my sole focus. My wife Anna, who has been my life partner for 17 years, has been diagnosed with cancer.
Needless to say, this news is a shock. Anna is young, healthy, and has no history of cancer in her family. We will likely never know what “caused” this disease. But what we do know is Anna’s medical team is confident she will make a full recovery.
This has been a difficult time. Cancer is scary, the treatments are hard on patients’ bodies, and there are a lot of unknowns. The good news in Anna’s case is the doctors have a firm diagnosis of what her disease is, and proven treatments they believe will cure it. We are grateful for those blessings, and we are putting our trust in the doctors, as well as in the man upstairs.
I wrestled with whether to share this news publicly. But I have connected with so many great people thanks to this column over the past decade, I decided it couldn’t hurt to have some extra love and support in Anna’s corner. Whatever higher power you believe in, we are welcoming all the prayers, healing wishes, and good vibes.
If I’ve been blessed with a superpower, it’s a deep energy supply and the ability to pour it into the things I’m passionate about. It’s what allows me to leave at 4 a.m. for a fishing trip and jump right into dad mode the second I return home. It’s what fuels my crazy trophy pursuits in all corners of Idaho. It’s what keeps me going late into the night working on fishing columns and classes.
Today, all of that energy is needed to take care of Anna and our two young girls. Our prognosis is 6-to-8 months of treatment before life starts returning to normal. So, I am putting my column on hiatus until Anna receives a clean bill of health. Until then, I may teach an occasional evening class, but you probably won’t see or hear much from me — just know that we are fighting the fight, keeping the faith, and doing everything we can to ensure Anna’s recovery.
We are grateful for all the kindness and support we’ve received from friends and this great community. We feel and appreciate it so much. Keep a good thought for us, and a tight line. Those fish aren’t going to catch themselves!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters for 25 years. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit www.tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings.
