Ya’ll meet 9 year old Destiny.
Destiny has SMA Type 2. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease. The motor neurons affect the voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, and swallowing. It is a relatively common "rare disorder": approximately 1 in 6000 babies born are affected, and about 1 in 40 people are genetic carriers.
SMA affects muscles throughout the body, although the proximal muscles (those closest to the trunk of one’s body - i.e. shoulders, hips, and back) are often most severely affected. Weakness in the legs is generally greater than in the arms. Sometimes feeding and swallowing can be affected. Involvement of respiratory muscles (muscles involved in breathing and coughing) can lead to an increased tendency for pneumonia and other lung problems. Sensation and the ability to feel are not affected. Intellectual activity is normal and it is often observed that patients with SMA are unusually bright and sociable.
Destiny is a very happy young girl and always has a smile on her face. She enjoys everything a 9 year old girl would. Destiny has in the past played softball and competed in beauty pageants. She enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with her family.
Now about the hunt:
We arrived Friday night at Cedar Springs Hog Ranch and met owner Mike Casey. After spending time meeting and greeting, we were all tired from the trip and retired for the evening. The next morning was a little cold for Destiny, so she decided to skip the morning hunt. Destiny’s dad, Erwin and Randy Arfle (Co-Director/President of Texas Chapter of “A Hunt Above”) decided to go to a stand and video and see how many hogs came into the area. They saw a bunch. Mike Macko (Director of “A Hunt Above”) stayed and cooked breakfast for everyone.
After eating a huge breakfast Destiny’s dad told Destiny about all the hogs that were seen that morning and she was ready to go that afternoon. Around 3:30 Sat. afternoon we set up a ground blind and got Destiny settled in for her evening hunt.
Around 5:00 several hogs show up and Destiny makes a clean shot and harvested her first hog in the wild. Destiny is in “Hog Heaven” and very excited. The final result was an 84 pound boar. Destiny was using a special rifle designed for her to control and to fire the weapon she would suck in a tube.
Here is Destiny's Camo Wheelchair:
The group:
left to right-Bottom row: Randy Arfle (A Hunt Above), Becca (sister), Destiny (Queen for the day), Aruba (Destiny's pet and friend), Mike Macko (A Hunt Above)
Top: David Seymore (Cedar Springs Hog Ranch),Erwin (Dad), Mike Casey (Cedar Springs Hog Ranch), Ashley (Mom), Steve Seymore (Cedar Springs Hog Ranch)
We would like to thank Mike Casey and David and Steve Seymore from Cedar Springs Hog Ranch ( http://www.cedarspringshoghunts.com/ ) for hosting this hunt for this special girl.
We would also like to especially thank Wood’s Tire & ATV ( http://www.woodstire.com/ ) in New Albany, MS. and Henderson Chiropractic & Sports Rehab in Oxford, MS. and individuals that donated to make this hunt possible.
