Henry Repeating Arms has donated a custom series of 55 “Miss Milah’s Miracle” edition rifles to raise funds for 4-year-old Milah Schevenius of Decatur, Ind. She was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms’ tumor at only 3 years old, a rare occurrence affecting less than 10 percent of all children’s kidney cancer cases. All proceeds from the fundraising campaign will be presented to the Schevenius family to assist with healthcare costs associated with her treatments.
In 2021, Milah underwent surgery to remove the affected kidneys, leaving her with less than half of her right kidney and no left kidney. A follow-up surgery was performed in December 2021 after a lesion was found on her remaining partial kidney. Additionally, Milah is going through 42 weeks of chemo with radiation treatments at a children’s hospital in Indiana.
“Never judge a book by its cover, because this little girl is tough,” said Ryan Knapp, Milah’s grandfather. “She has been through more than anyone should in less than four years of life but does it with a smile and she does not quit.”
Anthony Imperato, CEO and Founder of Henry Repeating Arms said, “To go through what Milah and her family are going through in the middle of a worldwide pandemic is almost incomprehensible. Milah’s courage is nothing short of inspirational, and I hope these rifles or the money raised gives her a reason to gift her family with a smile and a big hug.”
The Henry “Miss Milah’s Miracle” .22 S/L/LR lever-action rifle features genuine American walnut stocks with a colorful hand-painted motif that incorporates elements of Milah’s personality. A doctor’s stethoscope, referring to Milah’s adulthood ambition of joining the medical field, forms a heart shape and becomes intertwined with a bright orange ribbon that represents kidney cancer.
Two crayons symbolize Milah’s love of coloring and the labels bearing the words “Faith” and “Family” serve as tributes to what helps the Schevenius family through their journey. The rifles are fitted with a brushed silver receiver cover and barrel band, a 17" blued-steel octagon barrel, adjustable sights and a large loop lever. Baron Engraving of Trumbull, Conn., donated the artwork, engraving and hand painting on each buttstock.
To learn more about the Miss Milah’s Miracle fundraising campaign, please visit Henry’s special webpage dedicated to the effort. The auction for the first serial number in the series, “MISSMILAH01” is available on GunBroker.com, as well as the last rifle in the series. Both online auctions close on March 9.
Another of Henry’s Guns for Great Causes efforts raised more than $46,000 for the family of a sixth grader undergoing treatment for a series of heart defects last November.
