Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Fifteen-year-old Ashlynn Bailey isn’t your typical teenager. For one thing, in her youth she has had to summon more grit into her tiny frame than most people will ever need in their entire lives. And for another thing, she’s never been allowed to play sports, due to a heart defect that makes even minor injuries too dangerous to risk. But that hasn’t stopped her from dreaming of living the rodeo way. And, thanks to the charitable organization Children’s Western Wish Foundation, Ashlynn got to spend a day fulfilling at least part of that goal.

“One of my favorite things about rodeos is barrel racing, and that’s one of the things that I want to do when I’m a little bit older. Ever since that first time I went to a rodeo, I absolutely fell in love with the idea of it,” Ashlynn enthuses.

The daughter of Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital acute Nurse Aide Lindsey Danson, Ashlynn has over the years endured a long series of serious health issues which have required many heart surgeries, including the removal of her pulmonary valve when she was just six weeks old. “We did genetic testing a year ago and we found out that she has something called Noonan syndrome, which is a genetic mutation,” says Lindsey. Noonan syndrome arrests various growth and development processes in the body and usually includes some version of a heart defect. The diagnosis gave welcome clarity on Ashlynn’s persistent health matters. Additionally, doctors felt it was finally the right time to implant a synthetic valve to help improve her heart function. 

The surgery was completed in June. As a result, Ashlynn, who has been riding horses (carefully) since she was four years old, spent much of the summer abstaining from any activity that could impact her recovery, which meant no horseback riding. But that’s what made a surprise honor from Children’s Western Wish Foundation all the sweeter. Nominated by Laurie Wince, the Chair of Foundations For Health, Ashlynn was crowned honorary princess at the Days of ‘76 Rodeo in Deadwood. She was presented with a personalized, tiara-adorned cowgirl hat, a belt buckle and a custom quilt. She walked in the celebrated Days of ‘76 parade, received an introduction to the crowd during the rodeo’s opening ceremony and was granted VIP access, where she met one of South Dakota’s most famous barrel racers, Lisa Lockhart.

 “I’ve never been part of a rodeo, or met famous riders. And it felt really nice, too, that they didn’t treat me differently than everyone else,” says Ashlynn. Glee Nett of Children’s Western Wish Foundation was even able to arrange for Ashlynn to sit on an idle horse for some photos, which gave Ashlynn her horse fix–for the time being, at least.

An incoming high school freshman, Ashlynn spent the rest of the summer recovering from surgery and looking forward to competing in her first team sport, volleyball. As for barrel racing, her family currently doesn’t have space for a horse, so she will have to ride when opportunity presents. Ashlynn reflects on her rodeo princess experience with heartwarming, yet conflicted candor. “I mean, it was a little bit overwhelming with everything. We would have to be at, like, one spot, then we had to go, like, aaallll the way over there. And we were, like, just all over the place. It was mostly just exciting. Being part of the rodeo made my day, completely.” 

Spoken like a typical teenager. And that’s all Ashlynn wants to be.

Story: Kory Lanphear