The ordeal began with a phone call. “The initial call was that he had been kicked in the chest by a bull, and EMTs were checking him out,” Sabrina Smith recalled.
Sabrina and her husband, Danny Smith, were notified that their 17-year-old son, Walker Smith, was hurt at a rodeo.
Walker, a talented bull rider, first rode a miniature bull at 12. By 2022, he earned the title of Junior Bull Riding Champion of the Year.
The rodeo circuit isn’t new to the Smith family. Walker’s father competed for nearly 20 years, embodying their love of ranch life.
But by 10 p.m. Friday, it was evident this wasn’t a typical rodeo.
“A short while later, I got another call that he was being life-flighted,” Sabrina said.
Walker suffered a severe chest injury during a bull-riding event in South Florida. He was airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, where he remains.
Though stable, Walker’s condition is serious. In the ICU, he has chest tubes for collapsed lungs, is on a ventilator, and cannot move his limbs.
The biggest concern is his brain.
“No broken bones, no spinal issues,” his parents explained. “It’s all in his brain.”
Walker has experienced mini-strokes, escalating the situation rapidly. While injuries during bull riding aren’t uncommon, Sabrina admitted, “It’s never been this serious.”
When the Smiths learned he was being life-flighted, they dropped everything.
“I lost it,” Sabrina said.
Over 300 miles away in Tallahassee, Sabrina and Danny hastily packed and began the five-hour drive to the hospital.
“Mixed emotions,” Sabrina said. “I feel helpless because there’s nothing I can do.”
Danny, usually the family’s pillar of strength, admitted he’s struggling.
“I’m not handling this well,” he said. “Usually, I’m the one saying it’ll be okay, but I’m not doing well.”
The ordeal has shaken the close-knit family.
Walker, the middle child, has a 26-year-old brother and a 13-year-old sister. His bond with his siblings makes this even harder.
“They’re struggling,” Sabrina said.
Walker shares outdoor hobbies with his older brother. He also honored his younger sister’s autism diagnosis by dedicating a bull ride to the cause.
Featured on Good Morning Show in 2022, Walker’s kind nature has long stood out.
Now, in a South Florida hospital, the Smiths are far from home and loved ones. They’re sleeping in their van to stay close to Walker and unable to work, creating financial strain.
“It’s unimaginable,” Danny said, choking back emotion. “You tell yourself it’ll be alright, but when alone, it’s overwhelming.”
Despite their challenges, the Smiths feel supported. Strangers from Brazil to Australia have reached out with prayers and encouragement.
“People we’ve never met are reaching out,” Danny said. “It shows how loved Walker is.”
Friends have started a GoFundMe to help with food and lodging. The family anticipates staggering medical bills, including the life-flight and ICU care.
“The costs will be hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Sabrina said. “It’s overwhelming.”
Danny vividly remembers the last time he saw Walker.
“We hugged, like we always do. We never leave without saying ‘I love you.’”
The Smiths are relying on faith to endure this ordeal.
“All I can do is stand on faith,” Danny said. “Walk by faith, not by sight. It’s the only thing holding me together.”
