Dierks Makes Daniel Forget About His Disease

Our family has always been a fan of country music and since Daniel was a baby he would never go to sleep unless the country music was playing. Daniel’s first song he sang when he was two-years-old was ‘What Was I Thinkin'” by Dierks.  As Daniel became older he would listen constantly to Dierks’ CDs.  I remember the first time he saw the video  for "Every Mile a Memory”  he said, “I am gonna be on a big stage like that and play my guitar.” That Christmas we bought him one and ever since he has not put it down.  His dad even is learning to play and they play together all the time, not in tune but they try.

No other country musician has made more of an impression on Daniel as Dierks Bentley.  When Dierks did the live webcast when making his new Home CD, Daniel was there sitting with me watching from the time he came home from school until it was time for bed. I had to fight with him to do his homework because he did not want to stop watching.

In November 2011, we had decided to take Daniel to a concert in NYC and to see if we could get a meet and greet so Daniel could finally meet his “best friend” as Daniel would call Dierks. We had bought the tickets and received the meet and greet, but Daniel became sick and could not go.  

I noticed Daniel becoming very tired and assumed it was from school and playing baseball, but I was wrong. On December 19^th we had a call from the school nurse that Daniel was jaundiced and very tired. He was admitted to the hospital and after many tests we were told Daniel has a rare disease called Evans Syndrome that affects less then 350 in the whole United States and 1100 in the whole wide world.  We were devastated. 

After two transfussions  he was released with his numbers in stable range and placed on steroid treatments.  He gained 42 pounds in a month and started having kidney stones due to the high does of steroid to keep his counts in stable range. He was admitted to the hospital twice with kidney stones and infections so they stopped the steroids to give his kidneys a break. His counts had dropped and he had to be put back on the steroids again. He missed 3 months of school and was being tutored at home. 

In April of 2012 Daniel was in remission (Thank you Jesus).

May of 2012 we found out Dierks was coming to the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. I bought tickets as soon as the presale opened that morning and put in for a meet and greet.  When the meet and greets were announced 3 days before we did not get one.  So I sent a few emails and luckily received an email and phone calls from Dierks's team arranging for a family meet and greet for Daniel, me and his dad. At this point I still didn’t tell Daniel because I needed the doctors clearance to bring him. Daniel's counts were fine and we received  the OK and told Daniel.  He was so happy and scared at the same time.

June 30th we woke up and packed the van and drove 35 minutes away to see Dierks. As soon as we pulled up Daniel screamed, “There is Goldie!”  We parked the van and walked around to the entrance but we could not see Dierks anywhere. As we were standing waiting on our family passes with some other girls from the congress (fan club), Cassady (bassist) walked by us and we didn’t even realize it was him until Daniel said it.  A few moments later here comes Dierks walking back from the beach and we all said, “Hey Dierks” and he said hey to everyone and kept walking to get ready for the show.

We all went inside the outdoor arena and Daniel started becoming sick and tired.  We were getting a little nervous that we may have to leave, but the security officers took Daniel in gave us our own private seats and gave Daniel free slushies all night long. They were so nice to us.  They came and got us and took us to the meet and greet. 

Daniel finally met Dierks after  all these years of being his “best friend.”  Daniel was nervous as we all were but Dierks talked to Daniel and was such a very nice person. Daniel just wished he was able to talk with Dierks as if he knew who he was. Daniel sends so many letters but we don’t know if Dierks gets them because Daniel said, “he didn’t know who I was.”

Daniel was overwhelmed at the concert.  He sang to every song and was rocking it. He was the happiest little boy in the whole world at that moment. His father and I were in tears seeing how happy he was and just think a few months ago he was the sickest little guy.

Two days later after the show Daniel began to show signs he was sick again. He was admitted to the hospital with double pneumonia and had to be taken off his Allstar team; he was so upset. We hosted a benefit for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to raise money to find a cure for Evans Syndrome and Daniel could not be there--he was back in the hospital listening to his Dierks CDs, which he keeps with him always. 

If there is one thing that makes Daniel not think of his Evans Syndrome it is Dierks!

It's been a long hard ride, got a ways to go...

Daniel will be 10 years old next week. He is in remission and doing well. He still goes for weekly counts to make sure they stay in normal range. 

~Dawn Applegate (Daniel's mom)

DB Congress Rep, NJ

DBTV - Episode 10 - First Week of Jager Tour

Check out this week's DBTV episode where Dieks Bentley takes us along for the "free and easy" ride on his first week of the Jagermeister Country Tour.  Shows included "fist-pumping" crowds in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania:

Dierks Does a Stage Dive in Jersey!

Dierks Bentley decided to trust the New Jersey crowd last night in Sayreville at the Starland Ballroom. As one fan (Andrew DelGrosso) on Twitter put it: "DUDE EPIC SHOW! IM THE GUY WHO CONVINCED YOU TO STAGE DIVE! DONT WORRY I CAUGHT YOU! THANKS FOR THE AUTOGRAPH."

Dierks later tweeted this photo and caption:

"stage diving pic from last night. thanks for having my back New Jersey!"
 

Dierks performs tonight in Atlantic City at the Showboat Hotel & Casino.

I am hoping someday this DB Congress chair will get to experience that Dierks Dive in person!

~Ronna
DB Congress Chair 

NEW JERSEY JANET FALLS FOR DIERKS

New Jersey DBC rep, Janet, shares her Dierks Bentley experience with us--her very first DRT!
I had previously meet Dierks at a meet and greet last August in Camden, NJ and saw him in concert for the first time that day. I couldn't wait to see him in concert again and I got my chance to see him on April 9, 2010 in Mansfield, PA. It was my first Dierks Road Trip and fellow DB Fan Club Member Marie from PA came along with me. She and I both where selected to have a meet and greet with Dierks for that day. It was a four hour drive for us to get there so we decided to book a room at the Comfort Inn to make life easy on us.

We got checked in at the Comfort Inn around 3. We decided to take a drive and see where to park and all that good stuff. We knew we were in the right place as we drove right past Dierks' tour bus that was parked on the side of the building. Turns out the road I was driving on was going to be only one way the night of the concert so we found an additional parking lot up the hill. No spotting of Dierks as we drove past his tour bus and into town to get something to eat and then back to the hotel where we met up with Jane, fellow DB Fan Club Member from NY and her friend Fran. Jane didn't get selected for a meet and greet this time but she has one in May when she will see Dierks in Maine.


Marie DB Congress Rep from PA, Janet (Me) DB Congress Rep from NJ and Jane DB Congress Rep from NY

We all decided it would be best to take one car and meet at the car after the concert. We got in line to get our tickets and meet and greet passes. They need to figure out a better system for this--it's very stressfull on a person! Once it got straightend out, we got in line and waited for the doors to open which was to be at 7pm.

Meet and Greet:
The 12 fan club members gathered on the stairwell for the meet and greet to begin. Dierks was meeting with another group first and wanted to spend some extra time with us so our group was last.


The last time we had met, I had given him a picture of my workspace cubicle that I had made a "Dierks collage" on my side file cabinet. I brought a more updated copy with me for Dierks to sign and one to give him. I should have kept one in my pocket because the copy got taken away--not a big deal since I gave it to him later. When it was my turn to meet Dierks he remembered my workspace cubicle pic from the last time. I didn't have any family pics on there the last time I told him, but I had a family picture with my grandfather. I told Dierks that my grandfather had turned 100 years old the day before and Dierks' response was, "Wow, that's amazing."


Now here's the part that nobody in the room will ever forget. As I was walking away from talking to Dierks I totally forgot there was a little step, and what do I do? I tripped and stumbled onto the floor in a big thud. I was ok just very embarrassed. I was helped up by his meet and greet staff person and Dierks asked if I was ok, which I replied I was fine just a little embarassed. His response back was, "don't worry about it...happens to me all the time on stage."
Dierks continued with meeting the rest of the fan club members. His staff members came over to make sure I was ok along with fan club members. I said I was fine just needed a bandaid for my finger.

Once Dierks was done with the last fan club member he walked us all back to his dressing room. I captured the moment of walking down the hallway with Dierks Bentley by taking a little video clip.

He gave us all a preview of his upcoming single, Up On The Ridge, which I really love and took a video clip of that, too. The room itself had a nice vibe to it with candles being used to light the room. Next was the group pic and then one final goodbye to everyone. I said to him, "Well you won't ever forget meeting me now." We both laughed and his response was asking if I was ok. I said I was fine as he gave me a hug goodbye.

I know I won't forget this meet and greet experience for all time along with the rest of the fan club members that were there.

1 night stay at the Comfort Inn... $120.00
Concert T-shirt.................................$30.00
Falling on your face in front of
Dierks Bentley after getting
his autograph..................................priceless

The concert, as I expected it would be, was awesome!

Janet (Wildcat)
DB Congress Member from NJ

DBC MEMBERS OF THE WEEK - SHELBY(SHELBYLEE217) & GERALYN(GIGI6598)

First Name: Shelby
dierks.com username: shelbylee217
Location: Boston, MA

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley song? Lond Trip Alone

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley album? Modern Day Drifter

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley music video? Come A Little Closer

What led you to be a fan? I was always a fan of country music, BUT when I saw Dierk's video "Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do", those curls and that smile made my jaw drop! Then, I listened to the lyrics and heard - 'the Lord made me hard to handle' - I was like, oh no that song is about me and I was hooked!

"Dierks and his music have impacted my life so much in many ways. When I purchased the Long Trip Alone album, the logo inbetween his first and last name always stuck in my mind. So, I got it tattooed on the back of my neck two years ago! I saw many fans with the same tattoo, but I never thought mine looked like theirs. I treated myself and my boyfriend, Matthew, to our first DRT in Maryland (just weeks before Evie was born. Dierks actually admitted to having a helicopter ready to fly him home that day because his wife was so close to giving birth). It was my very 1st M&G with Dierks in Maryland and this city girl had just driven 10 hours to make it and almost didn't make the time. I WAS LATE!!!! Dierks said it was okay to let me in! I have never been so grateful in my life as that moment! I almost cried because I was so happy! He thanked me for driving all that way and asked why I would get my body tattooed with his logo. Before I could think of an answer, I blurted out "Because I LOVE you", and Dierks said "Oh you are so sweet!". I will never forget that moment as long as I live. Since then, I have met him 3 more times and have been obsessed with everything he is about.

If you ask anyone who knows me from friends, family, to my children - all I speak of is how much Dierks is humble, gorgeous, caring, how sweet he is in person, and how much I follow him and the guys! My children even sing along to every single song in the house and in the car. This past October, I brought my oldest daughter, Maureen, to NYC @ Madison Square Garden to my 4th M&G. My daughter is more obsessed than me now! She constantly asks when are we going to see him and can we give him a hug again! Dierks was so sweet to everyone!! I am a dierks.com fanatic and my boyfriend signed up for a membership right before our NYC show and won a M&G for himself, and Matthew was ecstatic! I told him that Dierks was the best and for the first time he wasn't jealous of me going on and on about Dierks Bentley! He is hooked now too! I have bumper stickers on my car from Alicia and David (thanks guys). I only listen to Dierks Bentley all the time. I have my 1st autograph framed of a white tank from Hampton Beach when we waited outside well over midnight to get a glimpse of my him! He has signed hats, tickets, pictures, magazines, and has left a spot in my heart only for him. I have met so many great people who love Dierks just as much as I do! I chat with them on facebook and myspace and share pics and stories every day! I think the local radio station has a caller id because they don't answer my phone calls like they used to! But I have bypassed that and request online instead.

My favorite memory would be every single time I have met him and especially when I had a M&G in June in Hartford, CT. Dierks called me Shelly and I almost lost it! Only Dierks could get away with calling me Shelly (I never had the heart or the ignorance to correct him that my name was Shelby)! The time you spend at a M&G is very short but take every second in because not everyone who loves Dierks gets that chance to be as close as you get at a M&G! Also, when he met my daughter in NYC, I will never forget her facial expression! She was so upset when we had to leave the M&G room and go to our seats!! She hasn't stopped talking about him since then, but I reassured her that we will get to see Dierks soon, but he needed some time with his family. She finally understood."
___________________________________________________________________

First Name: Geralyn
dierks.com user name: GIGI6598
Location: New Jersey

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley song? Trying To Stop Your Leavin'

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley album? Feel That Fire

What is your favorite Dierks Bentley music video? Settle For A Slowdown

What led you to be a fan? I was watching GMC or CMT and I saw the video for "What Was I Thinkin'" and I was hooked! I loved it and loved him! Just thought that this guy is amazing...

Has Dierks or his music impacted your life in any way? Yes, in many ways. My husband got tickets for us to see Dierks with Brad and Jimmy in Camden, NJ for my birthday. I am pretty sure my husband just got the tickets for me, but after the show he was also a fan. After that show, I just had to see Dierks again, so I got tickets for the MSG show on 10/21 in NY and I was right there in the 7th row waiting with my beer that I bought for Dierks(which I learned at the Camden show), but he went to the other side for the beer that night. I think that Dierks can bring you all over the place with his music - you can be dancing one minute and crying the next. I think his voice is just very soothing and seeing him live is just the best! He is an amazing live entertainer and I can't wait to see him again. After the MSG show I seeked out the DB Congress and wanted to be a part of it.

I am a hairdresser at a salon so if you sit in my chair you are going to ask me about the guy on my mirror along with the pics of my kids and hubby! If you have ears, you probably will hear some Dierks as you are getting beautiful. I was born and raised in Brooklyn NY and always loved country music (not really a great fit for a Brooklyn girl, but who cares!). So I have always been a fish out of water. Now in NJ, there are more country fans, but still not really enough. So every chance I get I tell people, please give it a chance, even if you don't like country music - listen to Dierks and then tell me you don't like it! Impossible!! Even my son, Andy who is 6 will tell his classmates and friends about you know, Dierks Bentley, he's awesome!

I think the Camden show is my favorite memory because we were walking back to the car and my hubby and I were both humming the same song. Then, we got in the car and the local radio station was playing it too! We had such a great "grown up" date night that night, and after that, my hubby put Dierks' songs from me on his Ipod!

Welcome Shelby(Shelbylee217), Geralyn(GIGI6598), and Leah(leadanielle)! Thanks for supporting our Prez!!

-Amanda Morris (DBC Secretary/MS Rep.)

JEN JUST CHILLIN' IN CAMDEN WITH DIERKS

I met New Jersey DB Congress rep Jen (jensting) and her sister Justine for the first time at Dierks Bentley's Last Call Ball V in Nashville in June. Jen admits LCB was "definitely the highlight of our CMA fest trip this year!" Jen and her sister recently saw Dierks again--this time in their home state! Here we go:

"My sister and I saw Dierks August 15th, 2009 at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ. It's only a few minutes away from Philadelphia, PA. There were about 100 total people who had M&Gs for Dierks, but only 20 of them were DB Congress (fan club) members, so we got to go first which was really nice. Dierks said that he wanted to make sure he was able to spend a little more time with the fan club members.

We all got a pic taken with him and an autograph. I had him sign my pic of him and me from this year's Last Call Ball. I told him that I was a nanny and that the kids and I listen to him all the time....that the youngest was two years old and he walks around the house singing "So So Long." Dierks thought that was really cool and said he had no idea that he had fans that young!

The Q&A was mostly chatting about how he was liking his stay in the city of Philadelphia. He said that he was having a great time and he went over to Center City (although he referred to it as "City Center" which was pretty funny. Nobody calls it that) and was working out at one of the gyms over there; hanging out with some of the people down there and he said he really liked it--said it didn't really feel like a big city at all. Lots of Michael Vick protestors were out, he said. Dierks mentioned that Jake's not too happy with the whole Michael Vick ordeal, and we all agreed. Then he told us that he got lost earlier that day in Camden when he made a wrong turn. We were all sympathetic because we know it's not a city you want to be lost in.

Dierks mentioned playing the XTU show a few years ago and House Of Blues in Atlantic City, saying that he really liked that venue and would love to play there again. Somebody asked him if he would be back next time as a headliner at the Susquehanna Bank Center and he said "Hell, Yeah!"

Then they took a big group photo and it was time to go. He hugged all of us goodbye and thanked all of us for coming (which I thought was really nice. He is always so genuinely happy to see his fans.) As we were leaving my sister mentioned to him that he should come back to Prospectors in Mt. Laurel, NJ (a small country club/saloon--very intimate and great to see shows there). He said that definitely he would, and that he hadn't played there in a long time and would love it. Hopefully he will. Then later on in the show he incorporated hanging out at Propectors ( into the song "How Am I Doin"....we were so excited to hear that!

It was a great show. And hanging out with him before hand was the best way to spend an American Saturday Night. It honestly felt like we were all just chilling with our friend before hand. Dierks is just a down to earth guy. It was a lot of fun."

~Jen (jensting) NJ DB Congress rep

HOUSTON GIRL FINDS ADVENTURE IN PHILLY

DB Congress rep, Lynne (NJ), never thought she'd live anywhere but Texas. So when her husband got a promotion three years ago with his company located in Philadephia, PA, moving to New Jersey (a short commute) made her feel a little out of her element. She chose her Dierks Bentley Fan Club name--BabEb00mer--"because I feel like Dierks' music brings back a very familiar sound to any of us having been in high school and college in the 70's." She looks at life as an adventure. Below Lynne shares three of her favorite "Dierks Bentley" adventures!

Philly Concert
"The first concert my husband took me to here in the Philly area to get me through being homesick [for Houston] was Kenny Chesney with Dierks and Sugarland. Our seats were on the side not on the floor but almost right next to the stage. I fell in love with Dierks' music right then and there--it was magical! We were in the 3rd row and I was standing up through his entire performance although there were so many people around us who obviously were only there for Kenny.

Towards the end of Dierks' set, he points in our direction and I wave back. Dierks tossed a guitar pick my way and the people in front of me caught it. I was a little embarrassed since I figured he must have been pointing at them not me. I'm not one to make signs or make a scene so of course my husband is laughing at me. But then Dierks comes back over our way again, points in my direction and tosses another pick. I'm so not coordinated when it comes to catching anything mid air, but this time the pick hits me right in the chest. Dierks laughs and says in the mic that he at least has good aim. Now I'm very red in the face and honestly have no idea where the pick ended up but it didn't end up in my hands.

Dierks made me feel so special that he was actually pointing at me and I appreciated the way he really took care of getting as many fans involved in the concert as possible from that personal side he shows to all of us. I loved every minute of his performance, loved his music, the passion he has for his craft and how humble he comes across to everyone. All great qualities. I joined the fan club the next day and have been a die-hard fan from that point.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo concert
We had planned a trip back to Houston to see friends and to get me through that "home sick for Texas" feeling and realized that we would be there when Dierks would be performing at the HLS&R which is one of the largest fund raising events in Houston. We purchased tickets and I signed up for a meet and greet never thinking for one minute I'd be selected since I had signed up so many times in the past and had never been lucky enough to be selected. When I received the e-mail notification I think I went into shock. I was so excited but also worried I'd make a fool of myself as soon as I came face to face with the man. The guitar pick incident was a reminder that I could be easily embarrassed!

When we arrived at the event and I went to the designated location, I ended up being the first in line to meet him. I wasn't as prepared as I thought I'd be, shaking like a leaf, he took my hands and told me it was great to meet me. When he asked me my name I swear my mind went blank and he asked me again so he could sign the CD I handed to him for his autograph. He did impress me by asking me if Lynne was spelled with or without an 'E' which for me it's with an 'E'.

When he asked me where I was from and I said NJ he stopped writing and looked me straight in the face and said, "New Jersey?" I told him that I came a long way to see him and he said, "you have no idea how much that means to me for you to make such a long trip." I didn't tell him that I was actually from Houston and had come back to get over a little homesickness but that he was just the bonus on top of everything.


Seeing firsthand how he interacted with each fan in that room like it was just the two of them made me realize even more how he values his fan base. He actually knew several of the people in line and called them by name. When we all gathered in a circle around him for any questions after he spent one on one with each person, he went back around to every person and gave us another hug, thanked us for our support and told us again how much he appreciated us. This was just another affirmation of why I love everything about Dierks. He is still grounded and works hard to get to where he wants to be in his career.

I can appreciate the hard work and see this is not just a job to him, it's a career, a passion, what he is meant to be doing with this life.

Philly Last Call Ball
When the announcement was made that he was taking the Last Call Ball on the road and the Philly date was announced I again signed up and was completely in shock I had been selected to attend. When I arrived, it was fairly obvious that it is more than a bit disorganized.

Dierks stepped up and made sure his fan club was taken care of after finding out that while we were all with him in the meet and greet the venue did not section off any seating for his fan club. There were no seats available to us for the concert and we all ended up way in the back standing room only. Dierks made an announcement to his fan club members not to leave after the event that he would be giving a private performance just for us.

You know he did not have to do that at all and we knew he still had time commitments for a back yard barbeque someone had won and then had to get back on the road to the next Last Call Ball event. While most of us stood in the very back of the event, most fans didn't complain because we support him regardless of what happened. Just being there seeing him in person was such a wonderful experience for me. I know most people never get the opportunity to see him up close and have a photo taken with him, and I feel very blessed for just getting that experience of a lifetime.

Dierks doing everything he could to make it the best Last Call Ball experience for his fan club members and everyone attending the event was no surprise, given his generosity and appreciation to his fan base. I know everyone who stood in line to get a photo and an autograph after the event became a fan for life that day.

Promoting.
As for promoting Dierks, I have links on my facebook page, give his CD's as Christmas Cards to family and friends and wear the Dierks.com bracelets all the time. I currently have 'Sideways as my ringtone and if I'm in a location where I can let it ring more than once I do, so I can make comments like - "Don't you just love Dierks Bentley's new CD?"

How can anyone be in a bad mood when you hear Dierks music blasting in the car or on my iPod?"

Welcome to the DB Congress, Lynne! Thanks for all you do to support Dierks!

~Ronna
DBC Chair