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Wishes Do Come True...
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►Jaycie
At six years old, South Dakotan, Jaycie, who comes
from a strong rodeo heritage, had her Western Wish
at the 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days. Not only did
Jaycie attend the rodeo and hang out with the
cowboys, she also was interviewed by rodeo announce
Justin McKee and when the crowd saw that adorable
face on the jumbo screen, the crowd of 10,000 sighed
a collective, “awe”…she was that adorable!
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►Tacey
R
Tacey R. dreamed of attending the National Finals Rodeo and
the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas. With the help
of Western Wishes, Wrangler, the Miss Rodeo America
organization, and others, those dreams came true!
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►Garrett
R
People who enjoy the Western way of life often talk
about heart. Great horses, bulls, cowboys and
cowgirls are described as having a lot of heart.
It’s hard to sum up in words exactly what that
means, but for Garrett R., Western Wishes
recipient, having a lot of heart is physical,
spiritual and mental. After 22 heart surgeries, the
nine-year-old from Colorado epitomizes what it means
to have a lot of heart. More... |
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►Darrell
and Anthony
Western Wishes, an award-winning charity established
in 1994 is proud to reward the fighting spirit of a
family that has not one, but two children battling
cancer. Darrell (16) and Anthony (5) exemplify the
grit and determination to get through a very
difficult time. Anthony recently lost his leg to
complications from chemotherapy, but does extremely
well with his prosthetic, enjoying his favorite
things—riding his pony and fishing. Darrell was
diagnosed a month ago with leukemia and is already
on chemotherapy. More... |
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►Jackson
B.
Jackson B. is a 9 year-old, Lewiston, Idaho
cowboy who had a powerful dream to attend the 2005
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada,
in spite of the fact that he has a form of cancer
called Neuroblastoma, for which traditional
treatments are largely ineffective. In true cowboy
style, Jackson is a fighter who doesn't dwell on the
negatives, but rather, focuses on the positive. He
once called his cancer a blessing, saying that it
has brought his family closer together, and has even
gotten his grandparents to attend church again!
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►Tyler
H.
The Western Wishes Foundation celebrated ten years
of helping cowboy-kids make wishes come true by
hosting a very special “Breakfast of Champions,” on
December 11, 2004 with a special child, a number of
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contestants, previous
Wish-Kids, and a variety of celebrity guests. Boyd
Gaming sponsored the event, which included breakfast
at the Stardust Hotel, to help make a very special
dream come true for Tyler H., an eight
year-old child who suffers from Spinal Muscular
Atrophy, a progressive disease for which there is no
cure. More... |
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►Rachael
H.
Junior rodeo competitor, Rachael H., from Hooper, Utah
was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 7. By the end of
that year she got a staph infection at Christmas that nearly
took her life. More... |
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►Morgan
F.
Nominated by Lane Frost's parents, Clyde and Elsie, six-year
old Morgan F. is the quintessential wish kid with an
indomitable spirit. More... |
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►Jody
L.
Californian Jody L. rode bulls in high school rodeo
and always dreamed of attending the National Finals Rodeo (NFR)
in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jody valiantly battled cancer and will
always be the cornerstone of Western Wishes. In 1995 Western
Wishes had the unique honor of uniting Jody with his bull
riding hero, 1985 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider Ted "Teddy"
Nuce. That year , Ted gave his newly won NFR Go-Round
buckle, which was a truly heart-felt and selfless gift from
the veteran bull rider, who was nearing the end of his
career; and thus the end of his chances to win another such
award. It was an amazing experience! The concert and
personal meeting with Chris Ledoux was also a thrill of
Jody's life. Jody passed away 6 weeks after his NFR wish.
Jody's Western Wish fulfillment will always be remembered
for the selfless gift from "Teddy", which will certainly be
eternally treasured by Jody's family. Western Wishes is
honored to have played a role in making his dream come true.
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►Jessica
S.
Jessica couldn't stop shaking when George Strait surprised
her with a birthday cake and gifts to celebrate her 12th
birthday at the George Strait Invitations Roping. The year
before, Jessica spent the entire day with Charmayne James,
attending Ft. Worth, going to the tradeshow and having
dinner with her cowgirl hero. Jessica has an unstoppable
spirit and continues to amaze her doctors battling Cystic
Fibrosis. She is truly a fighter and an example of grit and
determination. More... |
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►Jay
M.
He was the quintessential cowboy who captured our hearts
with that shy cowboy smile. Jay was diagnosed his sophomore
year in high school, went through chemo and radiation. He
was in remission long enough to compete in the high school
nationals in the bronc riding, but the cancer returned
Western Wishes brought him to Cheyenne so he could meet all
of his favorite champions. His biggest thrill was meeting
the famous amateur bronc rider, Dan Mortensen. Ross Coleman,
Justin McBride, and Rusty Sewalt donated funds to Western
Wishes to make his dream come true. They helped make his
dream come true, More... |
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►Rachel
M.
At first glance Rachel has all the makings of a
typical teenager, and a busy one at that. At 15
years of age Rachel is a fierce competitor, taking
on all six girl's events at the monthly high school
rodeos. She competes in the team roping,
breakaway roping, goat tying, barrel racing,
cutting, and pole bending. During her freshmen year
she qualified for the state finals in cutting and
team roping - all while earning a 3.73 grade point
average. At close glance, however, it may be more
accurate to say that Rachel's life this far has been
more extraordinary than ordinary.
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►Matthew
P.
Matthew P. is a bull rider, team roper, calf roper,
and an all around Cowboy. As far back as his mother
can remember Matt has always wanted to ride bulls.
As a mom she was hoping that he would just get over
the idea and move onto something else. Matt was 13
years old the first time he rode a bull. With
a huge smile on his face, she knew a bull rider was
born. With hard work, grit, and true
determination Matt won his first bull riding within
8 months. The rest is history. Today he is an
accomplished high school rodeo bull rider and roper.
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►Alyssa B.
Californian, Alyssa B., was a champion cowgirl who
competed in high school rodeo. Her favorite champion, all
around champion of the world Dee Pickett, flew down to the
Cow Palace for the day to give personal instruction with
her. Alyssa, in her sickest times, fighting leukemia and
undergoing chemo, qualified for the National High School
Rodeo Finals. Even though she was too weak to warm up her
horse, she saved all her strength to compete. She won her
district's all-around championship and ranked well
nationally. Dee was so inspired by her focus and
determination and was honored to make her dream come true. |
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►Levi
L.
Levi had a great day with the cowboys behind the chutes at
the "Daddy of em All," Cheyenne Frontier Days. Bareback
riding champion, Pete Hawkins took him around to hang out
with the cowboys. The deadly disease, Neuro-blastoma,
finally took his life just four months after his Cheyenne
wish. If it had not been for the contribution from Clyde and
Elsie Frost, the wish would have been postponed, and it
would have had a part in making his last days memorable.
Tuff's phone call. |
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►Kara W.
This courageous gal was stricken with Lyme’s Disease at the
tender age of nine. She was determined to continue riding
horses on her family's Oregon ranch and compete in high
school rodeo with a special handicapped saddle. A treasured
memory was when she made an exhibition barrel race run at
the Reno Rodeo to a standing ovation. She met her favorite
champion, Charmayne James, and her favorite singer, Susie
Luchsinger. Kara continues to be an inspiration to everyone
she meets. Graduating from Texas A&M, she is now a mother of
two and does not allow her wheelchair to get in the way. |
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►Devin N.
He battled leukemia from a tender age of 6 and fought it
until he was designated in remission. He now competes in
three events in high school rodeo and displays the common
thread of our Western Wishes kids - a determination to get
"back in the saddle" again. Western Wishes sent the
family to the NFR and he met all his rodeo heroes and
attended the buckle ceremony where Bob Tallman told the
story of his battle, and Dan Mortensen put up on the stage
with him when he got his Go-Round buckle. Another great
memory was when Billy Etbaur had breakfast with Devin and
his family. |
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►Blaire S.
Blaire is from California, and was so excited to meet Cowboy U
Star , Judd Leffew. She ran to him and jumped into his arms
and hugged him. A serious competitor in the World Champion
Dummy Roping held annually at the Sands Country Christmas,
finished second in the world in her division in 2005. At 11
years old, she also competes in three events in junior
rodeo. She is battling Cystic Fibrosis day by day and is
such a fighter. |
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►Wyatt S.
We had plans to make Wyatt the Western Wishes’ poster child as
he was so precious. Tragically his life was suddenly cut
short by complications from the dreadful disease, Spinal
Muscular Atrophy. Wyatt was quite the character and wise for
his age. He operated his electric wheelchair like running
the joystick on a video game. You should have seen the look
on this five-year-old’s face when Ty Murray walked into the
room to meet him...priceless. |
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►Jared
H.
He had a bareback riding accident at a high school rodeo,
that resulted in a spinal cord injury rendering him
paraplegic. When Canadian champion bronc rider came to the
Cow Palace to show him that he could get through the long
road of rehab. More... |
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