him. Just 18 days earlier he had lost Daniel. For as long as the coach could remember, his son had one dream: to help him win a state championship. Nearly two years before Dan- iel took his life, that dream almost came true when, as a senior quarterback, he led Ishpem- ing to the Division 7 title game. The Hema- tites lost by two points.
Last fall, Ishpeming returned to the championship game for the second time in three years, motivated by the team’s desire to win for their coach and by Olson’s desire to win for his son.
Removing suicide stigma
About 2 million adolescents try to take their lives every year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Ill- ness. About 2,000 succeed. Nearly every adolescent or teenager who attempts suicide suffers from some form of psychiatric disorder. Olson shares his family’s story because he wants to take away some of the stigma. He wants people to know that most forms of depression are treatable, even though his son’s was not.
Despite his volatile brain chemistry, Daniel found relative peace playing football. He loved the action, and had since the moment his father plopped him along the sidelines to pass out water on Friday nights. From then on he spent each fall at his father’s side as he grew into an all- state quarterback.
“It was his passion,” said his mother, Sally. “It was where he was happiest.” After graduating in 2011, Daniel went to St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., to study accounting and play football as a defensive back. He navigated the first semes- ter carefully, but in the winter his panic attacks returned. Sometimes they would come twice a day, lasting as long as 90 minutes.
His doctor ordered him back to his family’s home in Marquette to rest. Equilibrium returned, at least momen- tarily. He planned to transfer to a local university and try out for the football team as a walk-on. His dad offered him an assistant coaching spot in Ish- peming. By early summer Daniel was helping players work out. He taught defensive backs and quarterbacks. He knew all the kids and had played with half of them. Yet despite being home and back around football and his father, Daniel struggled to escape his depression. On July 19, 2012—a Thursday—Daniel accompanied his father to a job (Olson supplements his income in the summer with construction work). The two had lunch together at a sandwich shop.
In the early afternoon, Daniel went fishing with his best friend and his younger brother, Isaac, 13. He returned home and spent some time with his sisters, Taylor, 18, and Jaime, 16. His mother was in Lansing that day at a work conference.
During the late afternoon, Daniel told his
family he was going to the bathroom downstairs. Olson found his son’s body about a half hour later.
A team’s strength
When the players got the news about Daniel’s death, many camped out at his house until nearly dawn, in part to comfort his sister Jaime, their classmate. Four days later, the team showed up en masse again, this time at the funeral, wearing their jerseys, lining up in the pews nor- mally reserved for the choir.
Perhaps most remarkable, the team has reminded a coach what it means to coach and helped a father cope with his grief. Olson saw that when he pulled into the practice-field parking lot a year ago after the most anxious drive of his career. As he opened the door and stood in the parking lot, he knew he was in the right place. Olson told his players not to be afraid to ask questions or talk about Daniel. They weren’t and they did—and they carried Daniel’s spirit to the state championship, where they knocked off a heavily favored team from Detroit. The unlikely victory gave Olson and his family a larger platform to share Daniel’s story.
The family has used both words and images to share
Daniel’s story and deal with their grief. Just days before the one-year anniversary of Daniel’s death, his mother talked about four new tattoos in this family that Sally admits wasn’t into tattoos.
Both parents and sisters now have tattoos signifying Daniel, and with good humor Sally described Isaac’s relief at being told he was too young. Sally’s tattoo (on her foot) simply says “walk by faith” (from 2 Corinthians 5:7). She said the outpouring of messages and prayers to and for their family has been what has carried them this past year. “We have not been forgotten,” she said. Sharing Daniel’s story helps people with anxiety and depression, her husband said. “I really believe Daniel’s death wasn’t in vain, wasn’t senseless. My mission now is to help people,” he added. This mission—and his faith— continue to help Olson grieve. “We believe we are going to see [Daniel] again,” he said.
Until then, his family will keep sharing his story.
Download a study guide for this article (free to print/Web members) at www.
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September 2013 17
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