The United Performance Racking Horse Breeders and Trainers Association Supports Leukemia Patient

The United Performance Racking Horse Breeders and Trainers Association hosts shows all across eastern Kentucky. Their show on September 12, 2009 was a special one. During intermission, the members were challenged to donate $100 each to help a local boy to recover from Leukemia.

Kyle Dean Smith ws a normal 10 year old boy attending Elkhorn City Elementary School until he went to the ER at Pikeville Medical Center complaining of stomach pain, vomiting, and mysterious bruising and pain in his legs on January 10, 2009. He was sent straight-away to the University of Kentucky's Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Monocytic Leukemia. For Smith, this is an inherited condition. He has had two cousins die from the same form of Leukemia.

In April, he was transfered to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. He received a bone marrow transplant on May 12, 2009 and was released from CCH's care on August 18, 2009. He returned home that day to considerable fanfare, but that is not the end of the battle for Smith. He has had one brief hospital stay since at the UK Children's Hospital due to fever and continues on fluids at night through his port and is on anti-rejection medication. He is now 11 years old.

The communities of eastern Kentucky have been very involved in supporting Smith throughout the long process and this was proved again on September 12, 2009 at the horse show in Prestonsburg, KY. Asbury Stables in Phelps, KY. was the main initiator of support at this show. During intermission, Asbury Stables challenged the members of The United Performance Racking Horse Breeders and Trainers Association to donate $100 each to the continuing effort to help Smith stay on the road to recovery. That night, over $1,000 was collected for deposit in the special account set up for this purpose at the Community Trust Bank in the name of Smith's great-grandmother Goldie Marie Feldpusch. The next day, September 13, 2009, an additional amount was collected by the racking association.

The Family and Friends of Kyle Dean Smith are absolutely awed and overhelmed by the generosity and support of people all over the United States and the world. It has meant the world to them and proved invaluable in the boy's fight against death. Thank you!