CHAMPAIGN — On Aug. 30, 1998, Dennis Millage got the telephone call no father ever wants to get.
His 21-year-old daughter, Nichole, had lost part of her left leg in a boating accident at Clinton Lake.
"It was one of the saddest days of my life," said Dennis Millage, who now lives in Bourbonnais.
Flash forward to Saturday night, as Dennis sat before his computer, livestreaming the Paralympics sitting-volleyball finals from Rio.
Nichole was playing outside hitter for Team USA as the Americans beat their longtime rival, China, 25-12, 25-12, 25-18.
Dennis couldn't be prouder as he watched Nichole receive a gold medal to go along with the silver medals she won in 2008 at Beijing (where she painted her fingernails red, white and blue) and in 2012 in London.