The Good Fight

Golf for Women
Apr. 2006

Dream: To see her daughter play professionally

Dreamer: Kelly Jo Dowd, 41, former restaurant manager

I've always dreamed of seeing my daughter play on the LPGA Tour. When she was a baby, my husband used to take her to the driving range with him, and at age 4, she said, "I want to hit, too." Michael and I saw that she had a gift. She makes it look so easy, even though I know it's not. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, one of my worst fears was that I wasn't going to live long enough to see my dream come true.

I found the lump in the shower in the fall of 2002. I fought the disease as hard as I could: I had a double mastectomy, radiation and eight rounds of chemotherapy. I seemed to be fine, until May 2005, when my body began to ache and ache. Tests revealed the cancer had returned, this time to my bones. The doctors gave me six months to a year to live.

Even though Dakoda was scared and sad, she kept playing golf; she even led her school team to the state championship last year. A newspaper here in the Tampa Bay area did a story on our situation, and Bobby Ginn, president of the Ginn Company, a developer in Celebration, read about my dream of seeing Dakoda play in a pro tournament. It so happened that the company was hosting its first LPGA tournament at its Reunion Resort in April 2006, and Bobby offered Dakoda a special exemption.

It's not easy being 13, but imagine having to watch your mother fade away, too. Dakoda is very up front about her feelings; if she has a bad day or a bad dream, we talk it through. Golf gives her an escape. She has been practicing extra hard for the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open, up to six hours a day. When the doctors first told us my prognosis, we were devastated. But this opportunity has given us a new lease on life. I'm going to make it to April, I know it. We're playing for time.

I still travel with Dakoda to her tournaments. I watch her hit every stroke, keep score for her, make eye contact when she's feeling down, to let her know I'm here. Just because you're talented, just because you want your dream, doesn't mean you'll get it. You need other people to back you up.