An update on Ashley

Dear Mike,

I'm really happy to report that Ashley is home and doing fine after surgery. We were in Arkansas for only a week. Things went much better than expected. The doctors there were like miracle workers. A five hour surgery turned into three and recovery has been simple compared to what could have been. We most definitely put her in the right hands. They believe the entire tumor was removed but said she needs another MRI in a few months to be sure. After that, she is clear for good!

I can't thank you enough for the kind gesture you showed by agreeing to race Ashley.

As she was being wheeled away towards the operating room, I told her to think about the race with Michael Weiss. She said she did and it helped relieve her anxiety quite a bit. Funny but at the race when the rink announcer said "good luck next week" to her, she later asked me "what's next week"? She didn't know surgery was that close. Only that it was coming eventually.

Mike, I don't care what place you come in, you are a world class athlete. I have and will continue to spread that news around to everyone I know. Your attitude is just wonderful and unmatched in my opinion. This is so important for the young kids to understand. Ashley feels very special to have been able to race just one lap with Michael Weiss. Especially in front of all her friends and family. You could have easily declined. You are most certainly going to have a long, prosperous & healthy career.

Warm regards to you and your lovely wife. Please tell her the good news as well. She had asked me to update you guys.

Sincerely,
David Brickman

Eight-Year-Old Fan
Beats Michael By A Nose!

U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss
Takes on Pre-Worlds Challenge

Three-time U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss, a two-time World bronze medalist (2000 & 1999), was happy to accept a challenge by Ashley, an eight-year-old skater for a winner-take-all one lap race.

The day after the race, Michael wasn't so sure it was a good idea. "Ashley beat me," Michael said in a soft whisper. "I asked her dad if Ashley wanted a head start and he said no. Ashley wanted to beat me fair and square. I said, 'well, OK', and set up the cones so neither one of us could cut corners."

Not that Michael was concerned before the race, but he admitted, "I did watch her a couple of times to see how fast she was."

Ashley was cheered by her family, friends and other skaters at the rink. She and Michael raced almost even all the way around until Ashley neared the finish line and edged Michael. "But she only beat me by about an inch!" Michael said explaining Ashley's win.

"Ashley is a really good skater, too," Michael said. "During the warmup she did some spins and jumps."

Michael is preparing for the 2003 World Figure Skating Championships at the MCI Center (March 24-30). He took a few minutes Friday evening, March 14, after his 6 p.m. practice session to accept a challenge from Ashley whose father, David, submitted her wish to Michael’s website.

Ashley is a young skater who is currently facing surgery (on March 21st) for a tumor in her throat and on her tongue, the result of an extremely rare condition called an Arterial Venus Malformation.

The youngster, who has passed pre-juveniles moves and skates at SkateQuest, has come out to watch Michael prepare for the 2003 Worlds at his public sessions on Friday nights at Reston.

Michael, who grew up in Fairfax, VA and graduated from W.T. Woodson High School, is coached by Don Laws at The Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD.

His 6 p.m. practice on Friday evening (March 21) is the final of two public practice sessions at SkateQuest Reston prior to Worlds.