Letters from Families...

Here are some comments from a few of our Families that have had their
child's outdoor adventure come true with Strut n' Rut Outdoor Adventures.

TO OUR FRIENDS AT STRUT-N-RUT OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Words cannot express the gratitude we have for your organization. For all
you have done and all you are currently doing we sincerely want to say
"Thank You". Gage's horseback ride was simply a dream come true for him.
For years now Gage has been fascinated with horses, collecting everything
from horse figurines to horse movies, so you can imagine how excited he
was when he learned he was going to get to ride one! Although Gage does
not speak, we know he had a wonderful time by the huge grin he wore on
his face.

This was an opportunity that would not have been possible without your
organization and we are truly thankful for the time you have spent with our
son. I would also like to thank you for the funds you have raised for Gage's
upcoming bone distraction surgery. While surgeries are never easy, the
donation's you've collected on our behalf will definitely help alleviate the
financial burden this surgery has placed on us. For all you have done and
all your are doing, our family will forever be grateful.

Sincerely,

The Watford Family


Dear Strut-N-Rut

I can not even begin to thank you for making my son’s wish to go hunting a
reality. Ever since he has shot a turkey, he has not stopped talking about it.
He told everyone at church, in the grocery store, at the doctor’s office,
basically anyone and everyone that would give him two minutes of their
time. I have not seen him this excited about anything in such a long time.
Trust me I know. You see, Joseph was born with Spina Bifda, a neurological
defect in his spine. The skin did not cover the spinal cord and exposed the
nerves in his back. The higher up the opening of the defect is the more
complications a child has. It causes hydrocephalus in the brain because the
cord is constantly being pulled down; so many children have to have a
shunt placed in the brain to drain the excess fluid. The higher the defect
would cause the nerves that would control balance, arm movement,
walking, talking, bladder control, turning your head, almost any movement
to be compromised. Unfortunately, Joseph has a very high defect starting
between his shoulder blades. These nerves control breathing, eating, brain
function, balance, coordination, and bladder function. When a specialist
saw Joseph, he said that Joseph was the worst case he had ever seen. He
said that the defect was so high and so many nerves had been damaged
that Joseph would not even live long enough to be born. He told us to go
home and start planning his funeral and make peace with everything. He
then waved his hands in the air and said that if Joseph lived, perhaps a 1 in
10,000 chance, that he would never feed himself, drink, crawl, walk, write,
laugh, breath on his own; basically never have a normal life as a little boy.
Thank goodness God had other plans for Joseph. Currently he is able to do
everything that the doctors said he would not be able to do. He attends
school, draws pictures, crawls, walks with a walker, eats like any other 8
year old boy, and has the faith for his healing that is awesome to watch.
Saying all that Joseph has not been without a series of medical problems.
He has had to endure 8 surgeries, countless doctor’s appointments, every
test known to man, more MRI’s than a normal person will have in a entire
lifetime, at least 150 days in the hospital, and has to be on oxygen and
monitors at night because his brain forgets how to breath, a condition know
as central apnea. He has to be careful around sick children because his
immune system is compromised. A cold to me or you is a nuisance, a cold
for him could be life threatening. Because of the central apnea that he has
the doctor wanted to remove part of his vertebra in his neck to give the
brain stem more room. And that is where you came in at. The doctors were
telling us that if during this surgery, nicked the brain stem, Joseph would
instantly die. The other surgeries he had had did not do what they had
hoped it would in helping with his central apnea and bladder issues, s this
surgery was sort of a last ditch effort to try to help the brain help itself. So
right before the very intense surgery, you guys came to me and asked if
you could take Joseph hunting. Honestly, I think t was an answer to a
prayer. Joseph was already very nervous about the upcoming surgery and
was very anxious about the possibility of dying. One morning we sat in bed
after Greg had gone to work and talked about Heaven. He wanted to know
all about it and would it hurt, would he see Angels, would he be able to walk
normal and breath without having to be connected to a machine? I
answered all of his questions he had, but have to tell you that talking to
your 8 year old about the possibility of dying is a very surreal experience,
and one that I would not wish on anyone. But then you guys came in and it
totally took his mind off the surgery. He would wake up in the middle of the
night and ask, “Is today the day that I get to go hunting?” “Will I get to shoot
my turkey today?” I would laugh and tell him not today, you still have three
more days left. This hunt gave him purpose and a event to look forward to.
The day of the hunt, Joseph woke up very early, and in a very whispered
voice asked me, “Mom you awake? Can I get ready? Is Dad ready? Do you
think the turkeys are already out there? Will I get to shoot a bazooka today?
When will we get to eat it? Do I get to wear my camouflage and hat?”
Although this conversation was too cute, it was also 3:00 in the morning.
After the hunt the family, neighbors, church people, nurses, teachers,
friends and complete strangers heard every moment of the day. Compete
detail of how the leaves sound, the sound of the turkeys, what they looked
like, how they had to be quiet, how they shoot the gun, how much blood
there was, what his neck looked like after being shot, how many feathers
there were, the details were endless. We heard it so often that we could all
tell the story just like him. Five days later he went into the hospital to have
his intense surgery. His last words before he went under was about this
turkey shoot. It was also one of the first things he talked about when he
woke up. We hung pictures of that day in his room and everyone that came
in got an ear full of turkey hunting. He told nurses, doctors, lab tech, x-ray
tech, even the food lady delivering his meals. I can’t help but think that this
turkey hunt helped not only divert his attention away from the surgery, but I
also think that this turkey hunt helped him heal much faster than he
probably would have if had not been for the hunt. Not to mention that it
made a little boy feel “normal” for one day and not the child that is known
for being disabled. Thank you again for going out of your way to make this
day so special for Joseph. It did all of us so much good to see Joseph so
happy. I hope and pray that you will be blessed with the ability to take many
more children with special needs on these hunts. The world needs more
people like you. Thanks again for everything, your kindness and generosity
was greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Stacy Guthrie
Mother of Joseph Guthrie    
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