Post by smacko on Nov 20, 2008 9:56:14 GMT -5
“A Hunt Above” had the opportunity to take a young man on a dream deer hunting trip in Rankin County, MS. You all meet Jordan.
Jordan is 15 years old. This was Jordan’s first deer hunt in his life. He was diagnosed in January 2008 with Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma. He is undergoing treatment at Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, Mississippi. He’s mom says “Jordan is the typical 15 year old boy. He enjoys everything typical 15 year old boys do. The only difference is after living 15 healthy years he finds out he is not typical anymore. Our world turned upside down on January 8th, 2008. He was sent to have a test run because his doctor heard a heart murmur. I could tell something was wrong when the tech that was running the test starting looking a little panicky. But, I was thinking something was wrong with his heart. I couldn't have been further from the truth. I was floored when they told me my son had Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma.”
The day started around 4:45 AM when the “A Hunt Above” team met Jordan and his mom. We surprised him when we had a camera crew with us. That’s right; a local PBS station airs a show weekly call “Mississippi Outdoors”. Jordan was a little nervous now, but was ready to go on his hunt. We then proceeded to the ranch in rural Rankin County, MS. And meet up with the guide, Irby Stewart. Irby explained where we would be hunting and gave a quick tour of the facilities. Jordan, Randy Kwan (from MS. Outdoors) and Mike Macko (Director of A Hunt Above) loaded up and headed for our hunting spot. We arrived at our spot and the 3 of us got in the ground blind that was over looking a clover field and some big white oaks that were dropping acorns. The wind was swirling ever which a way and we did not see any deer that morning.
We went back to the camp, where we were met by the smell of some fine cooking. We met the owner of the ranch, Tom Rhoden, and he introduced us to the cook, Ted Waldrom. Ted had lots of cooking going on. We also met the host of the MS Outdoors program, Melvin Tingle. Jordan talked with Melvin and learned some tips on safety and deer hunting. After eating lunch and interviews and pictures we loaded up again and went to another ground blind over looking a nice large food plot. At 4 PM, Mike sees a doe running across the food plot, but Jordan did not have time to even see the deer. At around 5:10 PM, Randy the camera man taps on Mike and points to 3 does coming in the field. Mike tells Jordan, and after a little rearranging Jordan gets settled. Mike tells Jordan which doe to take and by this time Jordan is really nervous and shaking. Mike tells him to take several deep breaths. Mike says to himself…(Buck Fever has settled in). Jordan finally calms down and takes the shot. Jordan made a good hit and we recover the doe shortly afterwards. The doe weighed 115 pounds.
We would like to thank ALL of our sponsors and individuals that have sent donations to make this hunt possible. We would also like to thank Tom Rhoden, Irby Stewart and Ted Waldrom for the hospitality that they provided for this hunt. We would also like to thank the MS. Dept of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks and MS. Outdoors.
Jordan’s mom had many questions when Jordan was diagnosed and she said “The only answer I have is that we have a very loving Lord and he has a plan for each and every one of us. And if his plan for Jordan is this, then I know he has something big in the works for him a little further down the road. And Jordan is going to be here for a long time and he will meet each challenge head on because that is the kind of strong person he is.”
We At A Hunt Above ask that you all continue to pray for Jordan and his family while he goes through this battle.
Thank you,
Mike Macko (Director "A Hunt Above")
Now some pictures:
Jordan and his first deer
Here is Conservation officer Randy Newell doing the honors
Here is Jordan and his friend Seth, who also went on this hunt, and Host of MS. Outdoors Melvin Tingle
And here is a group picture of all who helped in this hunt
Jordan is 15 years old. This was Jordan’s first deer hunt in his life. He was diagnosed in January 2008 with Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma. He is undergoing treatment at Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson, Mississippi. He’s mom says “Jordan is the typical 15 year old boy. He enjoys everything typical 15 year old boys do. The only difference is after living 15 healthy years he finds out he is not typical anymore. Our world turned upside down on January 8th, 2008. He was sent to have a test run because his doctor heard a heart murmur. I could tell something was wrong when the tech that was running the test starting looking a little panicky. But, I was thinking something was wrong with his heart. I couldn't have been further from the truth. I was floored when they told me my son had Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma.”
The day started around 4:45 AM when the “A Hunt Above” team met Jordan and his mom. We surprised him when we had a camera crew with us. That’s right; a local PBS station airs a show weekly call “Mississippi Outdoors”. Jordan was a little nervous now, but was ready to go on his hunt. We then proceeded to the ranch in rural Rankin County, MS. And meet up with the guide, Irby Stewart. Irby explained where we would be hunting and gave a quick tour of the facilities. Jordan, Randy Kwan (from MS. Outdoors) and Mike Macko (Director of A Hunt Above) loaded up and headed for our hunting spot. We arrived at our spot and the 3 of us got in the ground blind that was over looking a clover field and some big white oaks that were dropping acorns. The wind was swirling ever which a way and we did not see any deer that morning.
We went back to the camp, where we were met by the smell of some fine cooking. We met the owner of the ranch, Tom Rhoden, and he introduced us to the cook, Ted Waldrom. Ted had lots of cooking going on. We also met the host of the MS Outdoors program, Melvin Tingle. Jordan talked with Melvin and learned some tips on safety and deer hunting. After eating lunch and interviews and pictures we loaded up again and went to another ground blind over looking a nice large food plot. At 4 PM, Mike sees a doe running across the food plot, but Jordan did not have time to even see the deer. At around 5:10 PM, Randy the camera man taps on Mike and points to 3 does coming in the field. Mike tells Jordan, and after a little rearranging Jordan gets settled. Mike tells Jordan which doe to take and by this time Jordan is really nervous and shaking. Mike tells him to take several deep breaths. Mike says to himself…(Buck Fever has settled in). Jordan finally calms down and takes the shot. Jordan made a good hit and we recover the doe shortly afterwards. The doe weighed 115 pounds.
We would like to thank ALL of our sponsors and individuals that have sent donations to make this hunt possible. We would also like to thank Tom Rhoden, Irby Stewart and Ted Waldrom for the hospitality that they provided for this hunt. We would also like to thank the MS. Dept of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks and MS. Outdoors.
Jordan’s mom had many questions when Jordan was diagnosed and she said “The only answer I have is that we have a very loving Lord and he has a plan for each and every one of us. And if his plan for Jordan is this, then I know he has something big in the works for him a little further down the road. And Jordan is going to be here for a long time and he will meet each challenge head on because that is the kind of strong person he is.”
We At A Hunt Above ask that you all continue to pray for Jordan and his family while he goes through this battle.
Thank you,
Mike Macko (Director "A Hunt Above")
Now some pictures:
Jordan and his first deer
Here is Conservation officer Randy Newell doing the honors
Here is Jordan and his friend Seth, who also went on this hunt, and Host of MS. Outdoors Melvin Tingle
And here is a group picture of all who helped in this hunt
