Imperial youth to receive Browning Award

Each year, the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association selects a Browning Memorial Award recipient, a youngster often with ties to a local fire department and who is facing challenges in life.
The award, named in memory of former Imperial resident and firefighter Jack Browning, is going to an Imperial youth for 2021-22, Brenton Wright.
He will receive a trophy and gifts from fire departments throughout the state on May 20 during opening ceremonies at State Fire School in Grand Island.
Four-year-old Brenton is the son of Douglas and Sabre Wright of Imperial. His dad is a current member of the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department and Sabre belongs to the IVFD  Auxiliary.
Brenton was born with a rare genetic condition affecting the brain. His parents said he was diagnosed with Lissencephaly shortly after turning two months old. Lissencephaly is characterized by having a smooth brain.
Complications of the condition include seizures, poor muscle tone, compromised immune systems, eating difficulties, developmental delays and a shortened life span.
When originally diagnosed, there were still a lot of unknowns for him or what his future would hold, his mother said. He has struggled with seizures and takes medication every day to help.  
Brenton underwent surgery at 8 months old to have a G-tube placed for eating and drinking. He receives physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Currently,  he is unable to walk or talk and has poor trunk control, but improves every day, according to his parents.
Brenton’s  grandfather Ray Wright of Imperial was an IVFD member for 10 years, and grandmother Tina Wright has been in the medical service as a nurse for many years. His other grandmother, Steph Yarbrough of Goodland, Kansas, has been a 15-year member of the Northwest Kansas Ambulance Service in Sherman County.
According to his parents, Brenton loves to be outside, watch movies and Paw Patrol, swimming and sensory toys. He also enjoys watching his active 1-year-old brother, Emerson, run around.
At this time, Brenton is growing out of his wheelchair, his mother said, and that is a real need in the family right now.
“It’s something we use every day,” she said.
The family found out Brenton was the award recipient about two weeks ago, Sabre said.
“It was a big shock. We are really grateful,” she said.
Browning award background
Nominations for the Browning Memorial Award are made by the state’s volunteer fire departments for children ages 1 to 16 who are suffering from a life-threatening condition or who are severely handicapped.
Jack Browning died at the age of 53 in a river drowning accident in Mississippi in June 1988, along with his daughter and grandson.
At the time of his death, he held the IVFD office of captain, an office that has since been  retired.
He was also heavily involved in regional and state fire activities, and had been an instructor at state, mutual aid and local fire schools.
He had been an IVFD member for 28 years at the time of his death.