A LIFETIME OF WARRIOR SERVICE
Rachel with Reba McEntire, at Rachel’s 1994 Western Wish
In 1993, Rachel Hansen Bitton was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and did 26 months of chemotherapy. Her doctors soon learned that she would hold still for procedures if they asked her about horses and life on the farm. It was in 1994 that her dad was reading the Western Horseman and saw an advertisement for Western Wishes. He then wrote a letter to the Founder and President of Western Wishes, Donnalyn Quintana. Several months later, Rachel’s Western Wish was granted and she got to see Reba McEntire perform at the Delta Center in Salt Lake. Rachel was given 8th row tickets and backstage passes. It was just the boost she needed to finish chemo and look toward a bright future.
Rachel and World Champion Bull Rider Tuff Hedeman
Rachel was also able to be the Western Wishes kid at the 1997 National Finals Rodeo. It was so amazing to be able to meet all of her rodeo heroes. She even got to present the go-round buckles at the buckle ceremony after the 7th round.
The inspiration from Rachel’s wish fueled her confidence at the 1999 World Paint Horse show where she came home with a World Championship buckle in Goat Tying and placed in the top six in three other events on her horse Skipper.
Rachel on Skipper at the 1999 World Paint Horse Show
“At the time, I had [chemotherapy] and 4-H every Wednesday,” Rachel says. “I would get chemo in the morning, and then go to 4-H in the afternoon. My dad would put me on my horse, and I’d have to get off between different events to rest.”
“That horse, he was my saving grace. During different procedures, I was awake with very little sedation or pain medicine. So the doctors and nurses would always ask me about Skipper, and how we were doing, and what 4-H shows we were looking forward to.”
Competing in countless 4-H shows, time events and rodeos, Skipper carried Rachel through her successful fight with cancer. Years later, she included him in her bridal portraits. Today, he sometimes babysits Rachel’s 3-year old daughter, Holly, although the now 27 year old gelding has slowed down considerably. ( An excerpt from an article written by Western Horseman Editor Ross Hecox – April 2012 Western Horseman)
In 2004, Rachel and fellow Western Wishes recipient Jay McDonald, co-hosted the “Breakfast of Champions” at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas, NV, where the wish recipient was a Spinal Muscular Atrophy victim, Tyler H. from Henderson, NV.
Rachel dancing with Jackson
The next year (2005), Rachel was right there to help host the WNFR wish for Jackson Baldwin, from Lewiston, ID. Unfortunately, Jackson lost his battle to Neuroblastoma Cancer the following year.
In 2007, Rachel was a guest presenter for the inaugural “Heart of the West Awards” for Western Wishes at the 2007 WNFR. She was featured on the RFD-TV Show “Cowboy Church,” hosted by Susie McEntire.
Rachel with Reba McEntire, reunited 16 years after Rachel’s first Western Wish!
In 2010, Rachel was asked to fly to Minnesota to meet Emma, another Western Wishes kid with terminal cancer. It was in February, also of 2010, that Rachel was reunited with her country music hero – the woman who inspired and helped Rachel so much during a particularly tough time in her own life – Reba McEntire. Reba was just as incredible the second time and said that she would like to see Rachel again in another 16 years!
In February of 2012, Rachel was asked once again to serve as a mentor to other Western Wishes kids at the inaugural “Champion In You” Ranch Program at the Chris Cox Ranch in Mineral Wells, TX. As an ambassador of Western Wishes, it was fulfilling for Rachel to watch the children meet and ride with Chris Cox, support one another, and spend time outdoors around horses. She believes that there is no better place for healing and encouragement than on the back of a horse. “They’re the best medicine in the world,” she says. (Also taken from the April, 2012 Western Horseman article by Editor Ross Hecox.)
Rachel currently is a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration. Along with serving as the current Western Wishes Utah Director, she is a wife, mother and barrel racer.
Western Wishes salutes a true Western Wishes Warrior: Rachel
Rachel will be attending “8 Seconds To Glory”; the “8 Seconds” movie cast and character reunion, which will be held on Saturday, July 21 in Cheyenne, WY at the Little America Event Center. Proceeds will benefit Western Wishes.