My parents didn't know about my condition until I was about 6 months old when I was still crawling with tight legs. The doctors told them that I would never be able to walk normally. My only hope of walking without a cane or walker was having a surgery called a Spinal Rhizotomy. This would loosen my legs to help me walk better. Before I knew it, my parents and I flew to the big city of Los Angeles for the surgery. At the time, I was only five years old. It was a long recovery, but it was the best decision my parents could have ever made. That was the first step towards success in being able to walk.

I have continued fighting Cerebral Palsy with much family support. One challenge was biking fifty miles in one day to help earn my Eagle Scout Award, the highest award a boy scout can earn. Some people didn't believe in me, but my strong will to achieve the goal helped ensure my victory. I biked the 50 miles in an incredible eight hours. After achieving twenty-one merit badges and completing a strenuous Eagle Scout project, I received my Eagle Scout Award. I organized a community coat drive, where I gathered over 600 coats, and I donated them to the Goodwill Industries. The Goodwill uses the donations to help train disabled people for community jobs. It makes me feel good that I helped so many people in our community.

In 2004, my disability caught up with me, and my walking started to worsen. I decided to have an orthopedic surgery to help improve my condition. It took three months of physical therapy to gain the full potential that my legs could reach.

The U.S.S.A. (United Special Sportsman Alliance) is a program offering a wide variety of activities for special people to enjoy like myself. Before I knew it, Ms. O'Donoghue and the U.S.S.A had started a Jr. Board of directors, and I was the first person to be appointed onto it. What an honor!

I attend Kettle Moraine High School where I attain good grades and try my best. When I graduate from Kettle Moraine, I hope to continue my studies at UW-Whitewater, where I hope to obtain a degree in business.

Since I've been a part of this organization, the U.S.S.A. has presented me with two life long dreams; the first was a Wisconsin Black Bear hunt, and the second was a Texas Whitetail hunt. The Texas hunt has gotten two sources of publicity: video footage, and two magazine articles written by myself. These hunts were my motivation to improve my walking after my surgery.

The first hunt took place on Monday, September 27, 2004, and I harvested a 202-pound Wisconsin black bear. What a rush!

My second experience took place in Texas during December, where I harvested my first Texas whitetail on the White Ghost Ranch. During this hunt, I not only shot my first Texas buck but also became friends with many great people in Texas. After returning home from this great hunt, I took some time and wrote two articles recapping the events that took place. The articles are in the following magazines: The Whitetail Fanatic (August 2005 issue)& Texas Trophy Hunters (January 2006 issue).

Mr. Steve Grams from Lone Star Camera taped the video footage during the hunt. The hunt will be aired on Television sometime during 2006. I can't wait!

Ms. O'Donoghue and the U.S.S.A are all about lending a hand when it comes to helping fulfill certain people's dreams. This is an incredible organization to be a part of, and if you're interested, check out the U.S.S.A. website at www.childswish.com Thanks!

Miles Miller
W329 S3089 Bryn Mawr Rd.
Dousman, WI 53118
ridgetop@wi.rr.com
(262) 968-5090