| Author | Message | ||
     Ussa Member Username: Ussa Post Number: 258 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 70.41.57.65  |
About two years ago I met a darling young lady here in Wisconsin who has impacted my life in a very special way. Brittany is 11 years old, has brain cancer (three tumors), and has been in the hospital 16 times since she turned five years old. She was in the hospital for three and half weeks during last Christmas and New Years. When I visited her in the hospital I could tell it was a very difficult time.  Brittany loves to hunt and knows more than most when it comes to the shooting sports industry. We have developed a very close friendship and I have learned more from her than I could ever put into words. I try to spend as much time as I can with her because she is helping me understand life through the spirit of a critically-ill child. She has a very personal relationship with the Lord that I have witnesses in other critically-ill children. She tells me often how she sees angels. On February 22nd/ Brittany and I left the Chicago airport headed to the Lone Star State. We landed in Houston where we joined nine other disabled and critically ill children at the Houston Motor Speedway. Here is a newspaper article about Brittany and my trip to Texas: On Feb 23th of this year, United Special Sportsman Alliance helped host another multi youth event in Texas, with the help of many generous Pittsville residents. Brittany Zebrasky from southern Wisconsin accompanied Brigid O’Donoghue (USSA) on her trip to Houston Motor Speedway, and the thick brush country of south Texas. Her six year battle with brain cancer hasn’t dampened her taste for adventure. This was to be a trip of a lifetime for the young lady. The first phase of the trip began at Houston Motor Speedway, and a ride is some real Nextel Cup cars. A shiny, black Monte Carlo that was a replica of Dale Earnhardt’s number 3 sported a USSA logo on the rear deck. It was this speed demon that caught Brittany’s eye and Micah Slaughter (USSA and driver) transported her around the race track at speeds over 150 mph! Besides Brittany, there were nine other disabled and critically ill children with the skyrocketing popularity of NASCAR, real life experiences like this are fast becoming a favorite with many USSA recipients. After the checkered flag fell on the event, it was off to San Angelo, Texas for a date with a black buck.  The black buck is actually a member of the antelope family, and was originally found in India, Pakistan and Argentina. Many ranches in Texas have imported black bucks, which are known for their blazing speed and elusiveness, as well as their 2 foot long spiral horns. The Stanley Mayfield ranch hosted the hunt, and it wasn’t long after their arrival, her guide Josh Boness knocked at the door for the afternoons hunt. After a long hard day and a half Brittney made a one shot kill on a beautiful black buck!  The last leg of the hunting trip brought Brittany to Four Seasons Hunting and its owner Dan Moody. We humans often like to challenge ourselves with difficult or dangerous tasks; and Brittany was about to face her most formidable foe yet, a wild Russian Boar! To make matters tenser, they were going to hunt the boar at night, and were only to use a knife to kill it! Assisting Brittney, Dan and Brigid that night were some black mouthed curs to trail up the boars and a couple “catch dogs” whose job it was to stop and hold the boar for the hunters and keep them out of harms way. After some time, the curs took up the trail and bayed up a nice boar. Dan and Brigid lead the catch dogs near the thicket where the boar was making its stand and released them. After leading the way into the unseen ruckus, Hagen Watkins (12 years old) from Uvalde, TX, was able to help “wheelbarrow” the boar which was preoccupied with the catch dogs in front of him. Brittany was able to slide up the backside of the boar and slip the knife in behind its shoulder shield. Words cannot begin to describe the intensity of a hunt like this!  Before returning to Wisconsin, Brigid and Brittany were able to speak to the Exotic Wildlife Association annual meeting, and convey the importance of providing opportunities for challenged and less fortunate people. Soon after returning to Wisconsin, Brigid and Brittany were able to address our Wisconsin Bear hunters Association about the very same matter. Wide scale involvement of many diverse groups is the key to success of any program, and USSA is no exception. USSA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Palmer-Ritchie-Thomas Post No.153 American Legion and Pittsville Memorial VFW, Micah Slaughter, and The Bumberas family owners of Texas Motorsports Experience for their outstanding support in bringing this adventure to Brittany and the other nine special children. With every event, the roots of generosity extend out from our community and reach out to people all over the United States. Thank you for all your support! God bless you! Brigid O'Donoghue |
