With a little help from my friends

Cowboy Christmas is over, and, well, the week didn't go the way I had hoped. During our second run at Reno (6/23) the first barrel flipped up and caught under my foot, twisting it back and to the outside. I thought it was just sprained really bad, but x-rays showed a break in the long thin bone that runs down my leg just above where it attaches to the ankle. I have a stylish black walking cast that velcros on and off that I am supposed to wear for 6 weeks. Jeanne (Anderson) has been taking care of my horses and exercising them for me. She is such a great friend.

Gut check time. I didn't have to run again until Monday at Greeley. So after lots of icing and rest, Saturday I decided to try the air cast the doctor gave me that goes inside a boot. It was REAL apparent REAL fast that it wasn't going to work.  I got scared and called home for Marty to come get me. But it was going to be almost three weeks before he could come to Cheyenne and drive me, my rig and horses home. I decided if I was going to have to be here (on the rodeo trail) I might as well tough it out and see what I could do. Brandie (Halls) suggested that I call Rick Foster of the Justin Healers and see what he could do. He thought he could tape me where I wouldn't damage anything and I could try to run. That was great news!                          

Monday - Rick taped me up, and it felt very stable. It just might work. -- Thank you Rick and Justin Boots for your support of rodeo athletes!!!!!

Jeanne warmed Amigo up for me, and we gave it a shot. It wasn't the best run, but it would work for the average. It wasn't very pleasant, but I knew that the first time would be the worst.  --  God gives us good friends who pull us through. Thanks to Jeanne who has taken care of my animals, listened to me mumble, and has exercised my horses. Thanks to Lita Scott who got me into a ortho doctor in Reno, to Kelsey who rode the cart with me back to the trailer, to Brandie and Shawn Halls and Bambi Robb who called Rick for me.  I couldn't have made it without these people and many others.

Tuesday- Rick worked that Justin magic again, and I ran again. I was a little scared about the next few days because the Justin Healers would not be at the next rodeos, but Jerod Hoffstedder showed me a brace that might work. So Jeanne and I spent all day (that's a whole other story) driving around Greeley until we found one.

Wednesday - I tried the new brace, and found it stabilized my ankle, so I am set. We had a pretty nice run that should place at Livingston, MT. Praise God. Sometimes you just have to be shoved out of your comfort zone to expand your limits.

Thursday- We ran at Red Lodge, MT in the morning. It started raining just before we ran. Amigo took care of me and we might win a small check.  We (actually, Jeanne) drove on to Cody, WY where we ran in the performance that night. Neither one of us made good runs, but we did learn that Jeanne was making the short round at Greeley, so we would have to call in the next day after the perf and see for sure.

Friday - We ran at Oakley, UT. It is so beautiful at Oakley, and the people are so nice. It is one of my favorite runs because the arena fits Amigo. Unfortunately, we tipped the second barrel (which would have paid for my week) but Jeanne was placing. The ankle is getting better. We head for Greeley. Jeanne was worn out from doing all the driving all week, so in the middle of the night I took over. It took a little squirming to find a comfortable position, and since there wasn't much traffic that time of night, I made it until sunup. Jeanne always rises with the sun so she drove us on into Greeley.  She won third in the short round and placed in the average, so the all-nighter was worth it!

No matter how tough you think you have it, look around there is always someone else who is having a worse time. Please keep Tammy Key-Fischer in your prayers. She lost her only son, Reilly, in a car wreck while we were at Reno.  Reilly and my son Brodie are the same age, 18.

Remember, God doesn't forsake us. He is with us in the good times and the bad. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 --
Tana Poppino
Professional Barrel Racer
Big Cabin, OK
918-244-9401

Discover your God-given talents, give your dream to God, work hard, trust Him, and never, never give up.

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