'Dano' Rapada's great birthday party parade

Sally Wilbur kept secret until the last minute a birthday party parade for her 17-year-old son Danny “Dano” Rapada Sunday afternoon.

But in that last minute the surprise was revealed to the guest of honor in a big way.

A dozen local fire, police and emergency medical services vehicles with horns and sirens blaring, followed by a long serpentine of honking cars and trucks, twice circled past Rapada seated in a wheelchair at the front of his driveway on Swinomish Reservation to drop off a bevy of cards and gifts.

All the while they maintained the social distancing that has become the new normal due to the coronavirus.

Everyone, though, was able to swing by close enough to see the trademark smile for which Rapada is well known.

It’s a smile borne of incredible courage.

A member of the La Conner High Class of 2021, Rapada has spent much of the past five years at Seattle Children’s Hospital battling ailments related to Aplastic Anemia, a rare condition in which the body stops producing enough new blood cells.

His compromised immune system, coupled with stay-at-home orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has forced Rapada to stay at home this spring.

Which was a key factor in his mom’s birthday party planning.

“I’m just happy to see everyone,” Wilbur told the Weekly News. “It’s been hard on him to be in isolation so much.”

Wilbur said she had initially intended a party with immediate family only.

“But then I thought of the many people who have been supporting him,” she said. “I knew I needed to share him.”

At the top of her guest list were the emergency medical technicians, firefighters and police officers who have rendered aid to Rapada during his myriad health struggles.

Wilbur reached out first with a text to Jaime Stroebel-Reinstra, whose husband, Aaron, is fire chief at La Conner Hook & Ladder.

“She wanted me to ask Aaron if La Conner Fire wanted to be involved,” said Stroebel-Reinstra. “Aaron then got ahold of Woody (Weiss, fire chief) at Fire District 13.”

That got the ball rolling. And it didn’t stop there.

Anna Jane Thulen, a La Conner High student leader and classmate of Rapada, rode with other youths on the vintage 1941 La Conner fire engine, the lead vehicle in the parade.

She and Rapada have seen their friendship grow in the years he has fought Aplastic Anemia.

“We’ve become really good friends since this came about,” said Thulen, who helped get the word out to other students about Sunday’s celebration.

She was impressed by the participation of Swinomish Police, La Conner Hook & Ladder, Fire District 13 and Swinomish Fish & Wildlife as their vehicles queued behind the gleaming historic white pumper truck.

“I’m really happy,” Thulen said, “with how many big rigs came out.”

Farther back in line, yet clearly standing out, was a colorfully adorned pickup driven by Cathi Bassford.

“With it being Memorial Day weekend,” Bassford said, “I thought I’d decorate it red, white, and blue for Dano’s birthday.”

That proved fitting, given that the journey taken by Rapada, marked by a cyclical series of surgeries, setbacks and rallies, has been nothing short of heroic itself.

“This kid just keeps fighting,” said family friend Laura Bird. “He has a spirit that doesn’t ever quit, and we are so proud and learn from him every day. He’s our hero.”