10-year-old wrestling fan to meet star
By Kristin Miller, The News-Dispatch
When it comes to wrestling icons, 10-year-old Colin Dusza is an expert.
From classic stars like Hulk Hogan to contemporary ones like The Rock, he's got the action figures, more than 300 in all.
He knows the fighting styles of The Undertaker, Chris Jericho and The Hurricane and, if asked by a relative, will precisely contort his action figures into those moves.
To say Colin is a fan is to underrate the level of his devotion. And no one receives more favor in the Joy Elementary School fifth-grader's world than World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. star Trish Stratus. His fondest wish is to be able to meet her in person.
His dream will be granted Feb. 12 by the Make-a-Wish Foundation when Colin travels with his parents, Marc and Valerie, and his siblings, Rhiannon, 9, and Darrin, 8, to Cincinnati to meet Stratus at a Feb. 14 "WWE Raw" live show at the U.S. Bank Center.
Colin, who suffers from the Duchenne type of Muscular Dystrophy, was chosen to have his wish granted after his neurologist at Chicago Shriners Hospital, Dr. Marianne Larsen, informed his mother, Valerie, of his eligibility. Valerie then sent in the paperwork and learned Jan. 28 Colin's trip was set.
Colin's type of muscular dystrophy, Marc said, deteriorates the muscles. Most patients eventually lose the ability to walk.
The Duszas' house is filled almost to capacity with memorabilia of anything WWE-related. A WWE calendar is in Colin's room, the trip dates circled in red so he can count the days until his journey. Old issues of "WWE Raw" and "WWE Smackdown" magazines stand near plastic bins full of action figures waiting to be chosen for a rematch.
Stratus' figure is there as well, a little shorter than she used to be. Colin's played with the toy so much, the legs snapped off earlier in the week.
Every time Stratus' name is mentioned, Colin ducks his head in shyness.
"I like her because she's pretty," he said, timidity making his voice quiet.
"He told me that if Trish kisses him on his cheek," Valerie said, "he was never going to wash his face again."
credit:
http://www.michigancityin.com/articles/2005/02/07/news/news04.txt
