Kallie Vorass, 4, enjoys a day of fishing.
Photo courtesy Lilia Lam
Sharpstown resident Marguerite Berger finds therapy on the water at the end of her fishing pole.
She grew up fishing in Galveston and that hasn’t stopped for Berger, 48, who lost her left leg in a motorcycle accident in June 2018.
“It’s therapeutic to fish. It makes so many people happy,” she said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help others find the joy in fishing that I have.”
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Berger will participate in the Turning Point Drum Fishing Tournament for the physically challenged on Saturday with a new friend and angler, 4-year-old Kallie Vorass, by her side. Vorass, whom Berger met at the Houston Fishing Show in February, was born with a condition that led to her losing her right leg.
Sharpstown amputee Marguerite Berger, 48, and Kallie Vorass, 4, met at the Houston Fishing Show. They’ll participate in the Turning Point Drum Fishing Tournament in Galveston on Saturday.
Photo courtesy Marguerite Berger
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Turning Point Drum Fishing Tournament
Turning Point, unrelated to the group co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, is a Port Boliver-based nonprofit that puts on the annual tournament in which participants aim to reel in drum fish. Those with physical handicaps are invited to participate in the one-day fishing event for fun and fellowship among other anglers who are physically challenged.
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“It is an organization run by people with physical disabilities for people with physical disabilities,” according to a description of the group by David Gaston, the group’s director.
For Saturday, Premier Boating Center in Conroe is donating a new 2026 Tidewater boat for Berger and Vorass to use. Arthur Hermiz, owner of 777 Travel of Conroe, will captain the boat. He also donated the fishing and hotel expenses for the weekend.
Marguerite Berger, 48, lost her leg in a motorcycle accident in June 2018. She’s an avid angler and participated in the 2022 Turning Point Drum Fishing Tournament. She’ll participate again Saturday with 4-year-old Kallie Vorass.
Photo courtesy Marguerite Berger
Berger’s story
Berger was born in Detroit and grew up in Sharpstown with a love for fishing off Galveston.
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A 2018 motorcycle accident in Galveston took her leg. She lost control of the bike, crashed and woke up from a three-week coma at Galveston’s University of Texas Medical Branch hospital. It wasn’t until the next day that she realized she was an amputee.
She’s had her current prosthetic for four years. It can’t go into the water though, so she switches to an “aqua knee” when fishing.
“Amputees often make walking with a prosthetic leg look effortless, but the truth is, it takes strength most people never have to think about,” she said. “They say it shouldn’t hurt, yet many of us live with aching bones, throbbing muscles, and the constant discomfort of a liner filled with sweat, or sweating off. It takes 80% more energy for us to walk. But we still take those steps.”
Wanting to give back, she became an Angler Education Instructor through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The past few years she has volunteered at the Houston Fishing Show in the Kids Casting event.
This is where she met Kallie, who was delighted to find that Berger looked just like her. They stayed in touch and will be boat mates this Saturday.
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Kallie Vorass, 4, was born in May 2021 with tibial hemimelia. Her right leg was amputated early and she now has a “running blade” prosthetic.
Photo courtesy Lilia Lam
Kallie’s story
Vorass’ mom, Lilia Lam, knew Kallie would have an issue with her leg when she was 12 weeks pregnant with her. Kallie was born in May 2021 with Tibial hemimelia.
Kallie was missing her tibia and kneecap, as well as part of her fibula, but the shortened limb did have a foot, Lam said. As a baby, Kallie thrived, able to pull up and stand but not able to walk. But at about 18 months, her right leg was amputated to allow her to later use a prosthetic limb. In October, she got a “running blade” prosthetic.
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The Spring Branch family enjoys fishing, so they made a day of it at the Houston Fishing Show in February. While in line they noticed Berger.
“Kallie always gets excited when she sees other people like her,” Lam said. “She took to Marguerite pretty well. She was super excited and giddy.”
They look forward to meeting the other participants Saturday and for Kallie to meet other kids with disabilities, Lam said.
“They’re able to do things just like everyone else and she does too, she just has to figure out her own way to do it,” her mom said.