It seems that these days most people spend their time making a living instead of making a life. We are only here for a short while and we should be making the most of it. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a millionaire or have the fastest car. Sometimes we all need a reality check to bring us back to what is really important and few weeks ago that is exactly what happened.
Just before the 2003 Tuff Hedeman Challenge in Ft. Worth, I was talking to my wife, Carla, on the telephone. She began reading a letter to me that really touched my heart and so I would like to share it with you. It was from a very special 9 year-old young man named Ryan Battistoni. He talked about how I was his hero and how he looked up to me. He even wanted to be a safety man when he grew up. Unfortunately, Ryan wasn’t going to grow up. Within a few days of receiving the letter I found out
that Ryan had passed away.
Ryan had had a brain tumor and didn’t have long to live. After speaking with his mother I found out that he had undergone as many as 21 operations during his short life. After his hair came out, he would use paper to make his cowboy hat fit. His strength and bravery was something to be admired, especially for a boy who is only 9 years old.
It seems that his mother had given this letter, along with a poem he had written, to Michael Gaffney's webmaster, Kelli Wright, who in turn gave it to Carla.
At the end of the poem Ryan writes, "When I get to heaven, I’m going to be your Guardian Angel." I’m not sure that I deserve a Guardian Angel, but I am sure glad to have Ryan as mine. As a tribute to Ryan we had his name embroidered on all of our bullfighting jerseys, not only to remind us how precious life is, but to remind us to make the most of it.
They say 'only the good die young' and I believe it is true. Thank you Ryan for
being my Guardian Angel.
