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Danny Waite

Photo Caption: Danny Waite is joined by President Patrick J. Schloss, his parents Mary and Doug, and brother, Tim, celebrate his graduation from Valdosta State on Dec. 11.

By Thressea Boyd | Photos by Bobby Lacey

As a young boy growing up in Kennesaw, Ga., Danny Waite had one thing on his mind — playing baseball. During the summer of 1999, Danny, then 12-years-old, played the game of his life, when he and other members of the Shaw Park Sharks competed in a 48-team tournament at the Cooperstown Dreams Park in Cooperstown, N.Y.

The multi-field complex, located near the Baseball Hall of Fame, represents the pinnacle of a young boy’s baseball career. Considered the ultimate “Field of Dreams” this multi-field complex hosts hundreds of players each summer.

For Danny the struggle to get to Cooperstown began earlier that year when he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor. Survival of brain stem glioma is extremely rare — it is considered one of the deadliest of cancers — however, Danny is a fighter and he battled the cancer as if he were playing in the biggest game of his life.

Several surgeries, followed by intense radiation therapy played havoc on Danny’s body and doctors warned his family of the possibility of mental and physical deficits that could be quite severe, some occurring years after treatment.

With the encouragement of his family and friends, Danny worked hard to gain his strength so that he could join his teammates in Cooperstown. Just two weeks after Danny’s final session of radiation, the Waite family arrived at the Cooperstown Dreams Park. The chance to play with his teammates again was something he and his parents, Mary and Doug, were not sure would ever happen. On that mid-July day, Danny stepped up to plate and with all the energy he could summon he hit the ball and headed to first base. The reaction from his family, coaches and teammates was equal to that of a championship win. In one base hit, the uncertainty from months before came to an end.

Eleven years later, on Dec. 11, 2010, another dream came true for Danny and his family. As he walked across the stage during Valdosta State University’s fall commencement ceremony, Danny’s parents, family and friends watched with pride as their son received a Bachelor of Arts in history.

Name: Daniel Bryant Waite
Graduated: December 2010
Degree: Bachelors of Arts in History
Hometown: Kennesaw, Ga.
High School: Corky Kell High School

My favorite thing to do on campus was: Going to the Student Recreation Center
My favorite professor was: Dr. Melanie Byrd, professor of History
My favorite classes were: Ancient Greece and Rome
If I could spend the afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with: my girlfriend Beth
If I knew I could not fail, I would: go skydiving
Three words that best describe me are: responsible, diligent and understanding of others
Growing up the person I looked up to the most was: my older brother, Tim
The thing that I will miss the most about college is: I will miss the friends I made at VSU
The one VSU experience I will always remember: winning the Sigma Nu Tug Championship in 2009 (record time). That was awesome!
Some unique things about me are: I am a cancer survivor, but I don’t define myself by that.
I chose my major because: I have always enjoyed history, especially ancient history