Rodeos
The Impact of Kindness
By Avery Williams, 2007 Gila County Rodeo Queen
Oct 17, 2007, 11:30

Families have an immense impact on our lives. In the month of November we are nearing the holidays and the time to give thanks for our blessings in life. To me, my greatest blessing is my big sister, Bailey. I have been able to learn from her and look up to her for my whole life and could never replace such a paramount teacher. Many of you know her well as the 2006 Gilbert Days Rodeo Queen and she has also made her impact with numerous other queen titles, even representing Gilbert in the Miss Rodeo USA competition this past January. I was lucky to be able to queen with her as a member of the Gilbert Days court years ago and was also able to travel around the state with her just last year. I have gotten to know my sister extremely well since she is my best friend and the one who can make me laugh the most. Ever since we were little she has shown an immense love for other beings. This past month she demonstrated her selflessness by donating bone marrow for a girl plagued with Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system that has arisen to over eight thousand new cases in 2007 alone. Bailey became a candidate for this donation when she was drawn by a cry from parents of a boy in Phoenix who was diagnosed with leukemia. They created a widespread search for a match around the holidays last year. She saw no better action than to try to help this little boy and signed up for the donor list. They took a swab from her cheek to create a DNA test and even though she was not a match for the boy, she went into the database for possible donors for other cancer patients. In August she received a call from the National Marrow Donor Program and through further tests confirmed that she was a perfect blood match in order to help this girl fight this detrimental disease. Instead of the normal procedure of extracting bone marrow, like you may be familiar with, doctors have come up with a way to extract cells through a blood transfusion. After a set of five hormone shots, the cells become present in the blood and can be extracted through a machine. Though this is an extensive and strenuous procedure, Bailey opted to do this out of her kindness and desire to save another life.

I’m telling you this story to try to impact your life as it has impacted mine. We are always told to help a person in times of need; when someone’s life and health is on the line, it is the epitome of need. I ask you to find it in your heart to recognize in the time of celebrating families and holidays, your duty to help out another person. This month you can give the ultimate thanks for someone in need. By going to www.marrow.org you can find out more information about becoming a donor and saving a life. If donating seems too extensive, I urge you to find other ways to help your community. During the holidays we are reminded about the impact of family and our community and I hope this message can help to impel you to do something out of the ordinary to lend a hand to someone in need.

Avery Williams, 2007 Gila County Rodeo Queen, gilarodeoqueen07@yahoo.com




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