Clarendon Hills Man's Inspirational Fight Against Seizures Earns Him State Award

Submitted by SEASPAR.

On January 19, Jason Catalano, a participant of the South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation (SEASPAR), was recognized at the annual conference of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and Illinois Association of Park Districts in Chicago. Jason was presented with the Inspirational Participant Award at the Board Meeting of the IPRA’s Therapeutic Recreation Section.

Jason, a resident of Clarendon Hills, began participating in SEASPAR programs at a very young age after being diagnosed with a significant seizure disorder. Now 41 years old, Jason has been involved with SEASPAR through nearly all of their recreational programs: Special Olympics sports, weekly programs, special events, social clubs, the EAGLES adult day program, and the SEASPAR/Kiwanis Aktion Club, which is a community service organization that performs service projects and conducts fundraisers to help others.

All throughout his participation at SEASPAR, Jason has fought the seizure disorder that often led to injuries, as well as repeated visits to doctors to adjust his medications and treatments. Ten years ago, Jason took a medical risk with the hope of living a better life by undergoing an aggressive brain surgery. A few more procedures followed, including a second brain surgery.

Despite all of the attempts to mitigate his condition, Jason is not and never will be seizure-free, and his extensive medication regimen has left his body vulnerable, according to SEASPAR Executive Director Susan Friend. “While seizures may have taken a toll on his physical being…they could never take away his heart, soul, or his spirit,” she said. “When he was no longer physically able to play sports, he became his teammates’ biggest cheerleader from the bench. Although he is sometimes physically weak, he is the first person to offer help, whether it’s cleaning up after a program or carrying equipment. And even though his bones are brittle from medications, he is a dancing machine, especially when it comes to disco music.”

Friend presented the award to Jason at the conference, telling the audience, “No matter what, his positive energy through high times and low times is an amazing feat, and a testament to the strong and wonderful man that he is.”

As Jason accepted his award, Friend asked him, “Who should you thank for becoming the amazing man that you are?” He spoke loudly into the microphone, “My mom.”

For more information about SEASPAR’s recreational programs and services for individuals with disabilities, visit SEASPAR.org or call 630-960-7600.

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Photos courtesy of SEASPAR