Document text
Southern Oregon Journal: No Sasquatch, but we met Carter Sunday May 21, 2017 at 12:01 AM By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune To be honest, we never saw anyone running in Butte Falls that day, let alone the guest of honor, Sasquatch, the individual for whom the event was named. But the drive up, ah, the broad expanse of ideal country living was sublime as Lane and I made the slow climb to the charming and historic logging town. As we entered the hamlet, we did spy a sign indicating we should slow down and have a care because there was a run in progress, but there was not a soul around, on the run or standing still. The town appeared deserted, with a chill breeze blowing through trees in the vacant park. Sasquatch could have jogged through town naked without being seen. I wondered if I’d misread the date, but there was the mysterious sign indicating otherwise. His likeness adorned the online poster, and I’d hoped to catch a glimpse of the elusive fellow. I began feeling the burn of false advertising. We rolled up to the Old Steam Engine Barbeque and went inside to inquire. We met owner Trish Callahan, who happened to be on the City Council. Trish thought we were in town for a double-header with the Butte Falls Loggers, but knew nothing about a Sasquatch Run. Four people at a table looked at us. Maybe my red cowboy boots were over the top. Trish suggested we check in at The Landing, a sort of community center. She said sometimes they have things going on over there. Sure enough, the parking lot full of cars and one horse-drawn wagon promised that humanity wasn’t far off. We walked inside to a room bustling with families and small children. I thought maybe we’d busted in on a family reunion, but I didn’t care because there was barbecue with all the fixings. We mingled with the neighbors. I glanced around, hoping to see Bigfoot getting a neck massage or laying into a platter of chicken wings, but there was not a hair of him. I did, however, catch the eye of a special fellow as I came in. We looked at one another and shared a moment or two. I had to meet such a charismatic young man and asked a gal running a booth if she would introduce me to his parents. The boy’s name was Carter Anderson, son of Blair and Courtney Anderson. I remembered reading that Carter had laid claim to the heart of Butte Falls and brought out the best in community spirit on his behalf. Blair explained that 8-year-old Carter was born with cerebral palsy, but Carter’s symptoms had worsened to the point of requiring further tests. The resulting diagnosis was PKAN, a rare degenerative disease of the brain. He’s the lone child in Oregon with a diagnosed case. Blair added, “The saving grace is the two leading geneticists in Portland are working on a cure. They’ve been working on it for 25 years and they’re this close. They’re within months. Carter has been directly involved with that.” Carter communicates from a wheelchair with bright eyes and a ready smile — a sure-fire charmer. A year ago he could walk. “A lot of people go through life wondering what their purpose is. Courtney and I and Carter know ours,” Blair said. Blair bragged of his tiny community of about 400. “I couldn’t think of a better place to live. Butte Falls has its problems. A lot of times in the media Butte Falls gets a bad rap with all the negative things, but the community coming together and supporting us has just been instrumental. Words can’t express the gratitude for the love they’ve shown for my family and Carter. It is just off the hook.” Carter’s mom and dad work full time, but could use some help with trips to Portland and special equipment. Carter has a fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/carteranderson. So, I didn’t see Sasquatch except on the sticker I bought for my car, but I met a one-in-a-million boy, his amazing parents and their extra-special town. — Peggy Dover is a freelance writer living in Eagle Point. Email her at [email protected].