Human Interest Human interest The gift that brings joy to a cowboy’s heart
The gift that brings joy to a cowboy’s heart
| Human interest |
By LeRae Haynes
A rare and meaningful gift has been presented to Horsefly resident Bill Webb. In a fierce battle with cancer that he is facing with true ‘cowboy courage’, Bill was recently given a beautiful gift--one with long legs and the key to a cowboy’s heart.
(Bill Webb's new filly is a gift from caring friends)
Pam Webb said that her husband’s lifelong dream was to come to a place like Horsefly to be a cowboy. “We have five horses and he rides all of them—has always helped with round-ups in the area,” she explained. “After his family, his horses mean everything to him.”
His new filly is an unusual and unique gift from close friends. His wife Pam states that the story begins more than three years ago, just before Bill received his cancer diagnosis. His gelding ‘Whiskey Jack’ was killed in an accident—a sad loss for the whole family.
“By the time Whisky died, we had given his mother ‘Joey’ to our friends the Godfreys, who had lost a horse and needed a companion animal,” she said. “Bill had mentioned to the Godfreys at that time that he wished he had had one more foal from Joey before he gave her away,”
When Bill lost Whiskey and was diagnosed with cancer, his wish for ‘one more foal’ was put into action. The Godfreys proceeded to have a foal from Joey and the stud that had sired Whisky.
“The Godfreys took the idea to Joey’s current owners (the Vihers), who took it to the sire’s owners (Lyn Lip and Hans Kull).
“By last spring a plan was in the works and a foal was on the way,” Pam said. “In September Bill was re-diagnosed with metasesis of his previous cancer. He had surgery on December 5 for his liver, on January 4 for his lung and on March 9 2012 he had open heart surgery to remove a tumor.”
On July 2 the Godfreys, Vihers, Hans Kull and Lyn Lipp all surprised Bill with a beautiful filly. “He was incredibly moved,” Pam continued. “It meant the world to us that these wonderful friends gave Bill a gift that showed that they believe in the future for him.”
She said that these close friends have been with Bill though thick and thin. “This gift said, ‘We believe in you and know that you’ll be OK,’” she explained. “This beautiful filly has won her new ‘Daddy’s’ heart--what a rare and beautiful gift these friends have given Bill to look forward to.
“He is so strong in himself, and what give him strength is all the support he gets from family and friends.”
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