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Benefit4Kids Discussion Board :: General :: Upcoming Outdoor Wish Trips :: In Memory of
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AuthorTopic: In Memory of (Read 1,193 times)
Al Baggett
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In Memory of
« Thread Started on Dec 5, 2006, 10:00pm »
This thread is intended to remember and highlight the life and memories of the kids Benefit4Kids has helped live his or her Outdoor Dream in the past, who unfortunately, God had other plans for and taking them from us far too early!

Sure these moments are tough but the thoughts, pictures, stories, drive, and outlook on life that each one of the kids show us is what fuels our drive along with the fact of knowing that these kids were able to live their Outdoor Dream with their family at their side sets us all at ease and allows us to reflect on our own lives and realize we don't have it all that bad!

Please keep this thread free of general discussion and keep the families affected below in your thought's and prayers through their struggles and difficult times ahead!
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Al Baggett
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Al Baggett
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Re: In Memory of
« Reply #1 on Dec 5, 2006, 10:15pm »
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Brandon Stazula passed away suddenly October 26th, 2006 after a courageous battle with Stomach cancer. Brandon was just a week shy of his 17th birthday when God had other plans of Brandon joining him on his next hunting trip!

Read about Brandon's Outdoor Wish Trip with Colorado Native and host of Wild Life Point Blank TV show host Phil Phillips here: http://benefit4kids.proboards41.com/inde....read=1107377099
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Al Baggett
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Al Baggett
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We all seek the common goal....HELPING THE KIDS!!!


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Joined: Feb 2005
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Location: Gaines, MI
Re: In Memory of
« Reply #2 on Dec 9, 2006, 4:13pm »
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Jerry Steven's Jr. passed away Novermber 14th at his home in Florida. Jerry was 14 years old. Jerry was the type of kid to always have a smile on his face and who could even brighten the worst day. Just seeing Jerry and talking to him you soon forgot all your "problems"!

Along with Brandon, we presented Jerry with the mount of his Red Stag at our Wild Game Dinner in March 2006. Jerry had a smile come over his face I will never forget. Hunting was something Jerry always wanted to do, and until he found B4K, he and his dad never thought that was possible because of his situation. Thanks to Jim Reifert, Benefit4Kids was able to make that dream possible for Jerry and that meant everything in the world to Jerry, according to his dad, Jerry Sr.

His dad also told me that Jerry wanted to help Benefit4Kids in any possible to help even more kids! Jerry never saw himself as "handicap" and thought he was just a normal kid! Jerry's memory will remain alive and strong and be just one of the many kids Benefit4Kids thinks of daily that keep us going because of his outlook on life and the obsticals put before him!

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Al Baggett
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Al Baggett
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Re: In Memory of
« Reply #3 on Feb 11, 2007, 3:25pm »
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Daniel Myslivecek was a tough young man who battled Melanoma most of his life. Various treatments and medicines were tried but nothing seemed to make it go away. Daniel lost his battle with Melanoma on July 12th, 2006 at only 14 years old, but not before Daniel was able to travel to Colorado and harvest this beautiful Mule Deer and a Cow Elk!

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Al Baggett
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Al Baggett
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We all seek the common goal....HELPING THE KIDS!!!


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Re: In Memory of
« Reply #4 on Feb 11, 2007, 3:34pm »
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Justin Hermansen was only 12 years old when God had other plans for him. Justin suffered from an inoperable brain tumor and wanted nothing more than to go hunting! Benefit4Kids made this possible by sending Justin and his family to Deer Tracks Ranch in Northern MI in early November 2004 where he shot this huge 8 Point! Because of his condition, Oakridge Taxidermy in Waterford MI rushed the mount and we were able to present the trophy to Justin the first week of December 2004. Justin passed away 1 week later almost to the day.
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Al Baggett
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Al Baggett
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We all seek the common goal....HELPING THE KIDS!!!


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Location: Gaines, MI
Re: In Memory of
« Reply #5 on Jun 19, 2007, 7:50pm »
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Well it's with a heavy heart I must post here again as we recently got word that Chase Crews has passed away after a tough and brave battle with Cancer. Chase was was a tough kid and proved doctors wrong over 3 years ago after saying he would live to see the summer. Well that September Benefit4Kids sent Chase on his dream to hunt bears and although he didn't get a bear, he told us he had the time of his life and wouldn't change anything!

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Al Baggett
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Linda Gehringer
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Re: In Memory of
« Reply #6 on Sept 2, 2007, 12:12am »
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Shannon Shaw from California had an inoperable brain tumor, her outdoor wish was to go on a houseboat trip. Holiday Harbor in California donated a 56' houseboat for her family to use from May 4 to the 10th of 2007 to use on Shasta Lake. Shannon passed away June 29, 2007, she was 9 years old.

The highlight of her trip was feeding the deer, geese, ducks, and gosslings.
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Linda Gehringer
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No sick or dying child should ever be told no for a outdoor wish
Al Baggett
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Re: In Memory of
« Reply #7 on Dec 1, 2007, 4:41pm »
This really hits everyone here at B4K very hard, because this is a kid that never got his wish! Mathew Schoals was a very upbeat 18 year old who just graduated High School despite going through (2) rounds of leukemia and 2 bone marrow transplants over the past few years. B4K had been contacted by a social worker at Children's Hospital in Detroit about Mathew and him talking about wanting to go hunting.

When we talked to the Social Worker, we quickly got them the paperwork and had it filled out as his 18th birthday was quickly approaching (to qualify for an "Outdoor Wish" one of the 3 requirements is paperwork must be submitted and approved prior to the childs 18th birthday). We received the paperwork and approved it September 3rd, 2 day's prior to his 18th Birthday. Matt wanted to go on an "Ultimate Hunting Experience".

I made contact with Matt via cell phone just after his 18th Birthday. Matt was a very upbeat and positive young man who was asking all sorts of questions about the trip. He was obviously excited, but then I found out I was talking to him while he layed in a hospital bed, under going normal treatments. After talking to him for awhile it was determined he really wanted to go on a Black Bear Hunt out west, so I said no problem, that's what your wish is, we will make it happen! At the end of that conservation, I said I would be in touch with him soon. I never spoke to Matt again!

I was at work one day in early October when a co-worker who knew Matt's family comes into my office. Randy asked if I had heard any news lately on Matt, and that is when he told me the unthinkable! Matt passed away earlier that day after a recent bone marrow procedure which led to graft-versus-host disease. Immune cells in the transplanted marrow began attacking Schoals’ body, and his health deteriorated and his lungs soon gave out. Matt never received his "Outdoor Wish" to go Black Bear hunting and that doesn't sit well with anyone here. We have got to reach these kids before this happens!

I am glad I at least got to speak to Matt over the phone and from what everyone tells me, he was a strong young man who left us way to young!
« Last Edit: Dec 1, 2007, 4:45pm by Al Baggett »Link to Post - Back to Top  IP: Logged
Al Baggett
President Benefit4Kids
Al Baggett
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We all seek the common goal....HELPING THE KIDS!!!


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Posts: 225
Location: Gaines, MI
Re: In Memory of
« Reply #8 on Nov 4, 2008, 7:56pm »
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Benefit4Kids is deeply saddened by another loss of a child. It was our youngest child ever to receive their “Outdoor Wish” and one who many of us became very close to. Once again, the Benefit4Kids team has had to fight past the tears, stop trying to figure out why, and remember the experience that we were fortunate enough to be able to provide. Knowing that the future is not so bright for some of the kids we work with, you somewhat prepare yourself for this. However, we are never prepared for when that news arrives. Timmy Larson lost his courageous battle with Metastatic Alveolar Rhaybdomyosarcoma (rare muscular cancer) while at home in the arms of his parents Tim and Diane on June 13th, 2008.

Timmy has battled this cancer for just over 2 years, and was pronounced to be in remission around Christmas 2007. I was informed in mid January 2008 that the cancer had returned. Since that day, the cancer has been making a growing presence within the body of a true hero! Timmy never let that stop him from fishing however!

Timmy showed everyone what a true hero is and how you can make the best of each day you are given. During the last few months of his young life, Timmy and his family did a lot of traveling, including a return trip to Oklahoma to fish with Jimmy Houston this past May. This was the second trip to Oklahoma as B4K sent Timmy on his “Outdoor Wish” to go bass fishing with Jimmy Houston in June 2007. Jimmy and his wife, Chris, were so touched by Timmy’s eagerness and fascination with fishing, they stayed in touch with the family after the trip. Upon hearing the news of the cancer returning they invited the family back to spend some more time with him!

Timmy will be missed dearly by everyone that got to know him. We, at Benefit4Kids, are honored to have known and been inspired by Timmy! I’m sure Timmy is standing side by side with God right now, showing him how to correctly bait a hook, and reel in fish! He just might show him how to properly kiss a large mouth bass, per the guidance he learned from Jimmy Houston. We will miss you, Timmy!

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Al Baggett
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