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Hi Dear Friends -
I will start off with how I came to be in this situation
. Most people know me from my rodeo career, which ended on April 27, 2001,
when I fell asleep at the wheel, rolled my pickup and was left a
paraplegic.
At the time I had no insurance. A rodeo injury the year before kept me
away from rodeo and without an income. Bills piled up and keeping a roof
over my family's head took precedence over other things. On April 1, 2001
I was released to go back to work shoeing horses. I was starting to catch
up financially and thinking of picking up health insurance again. Then
came the accident. I lost everything I had worked for. Since then I have
been trying to put my life back together and get back on my feet and out
of this chair.
I have done extensive research on promising procedures for spinal cord
injuries and have narrowed it down to the two that have the most promise
of success. I have done most of my therapy on my own and am accomplishing
things that my Doctor says I am not supposed to be able to do--I can walk
short distances and stand with the aid of a walker.
I guess it's the bull rider in me that has spurred me on this far. I am
trying to make a living as a silver smith and I am working on a prototype
for a system that would give the handicapped more independence by allowing
them to load and unload their wheelchairs into their vehicles without
assistance. In addition, I am designing other items that will make fishing
and hunting easier for the handicapped to participate in without having to
rely on others.
The development of these prototypes has been slow going as I am working
with very limited funds and do what I can with the little bit of money I
get every month. I am currently working with a friend who owns a western
store to raise both awareness and funds for spinal cord injuries. By using
my celebrity status as a catalyst we hope to give others the same
opportunity for treatment that your donations will make possible for me
and that my anticipated results will be an added tool to perpetuate the
fund for the continued benefit to others. It may take some time to put
this all together but with your help we can, as the saying goes, 'Get 'R
Done'!
My Career Highlights.
World Record 1991 - first and only person to score a perfect 100 point
ride in the history of professional rodeo. Bull riding.
- Columbia River Circuit Champion 1991 and 1993.
- Dodge National Circuits Finals Rodeo Qualifier 1988, 1991 and 1993.
- Runner-up PRCA Rookie of the year 1985.
- Pendleton Roundup bull riding rookie of the year 1985.
- Northwest Junior Rodeo Association Bull riding Champion 1976 .
Member of the BRO & PBR .
The Treatments
The first, involving Laser Puncture, is done in France and I
can make the trip there as soon as I raise the funds to cover the cost.
The second procedure, will be done in Mexico.
My participation in both of these procedures will be documented on film so
that it can be a source of inspiration and hope for others with spinal
cord injuries.
Website for info on Mexico
Neuro-Regeneration, Repair and Functional
Recovery
Website info France .
Laserponcture
Laserpuncture
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