ProRodeo Sports News - April 3, 2020

PRORODEO COWBOYS

James Phifer photo

As soon as his arm was out of its sling, Jared Fillmore returned to roping the dummy.

Making the most

BY MATT NABER A t age 13, Jared Fillmore and a group of friends a rural Utah road late in the evening. From nowhere, a car going 55 mph struck Fillmore and a friend from behind and grazed two others. were walking along

When they brought him in, he had severe brain trauma. I remember thinking, ‘Is he going to make it?’ We had to pray and put it in God’s hands.” Seven years later, the 20-year-old team roping heeler just took home $25,000 from The American.

NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

The car shattered Fillmore. “I flipped up onto the window, flew forward and drug my face across the asphalt,” he said. “I broke my neck, my back and every limb except my left arm, but I broke my left collarbone and bones in my face.” His friend was less fortunate. “She and I were life-flighted to the hospital,” he said. “She died two days later, but she was brain dead immediately.” While aspects of the injuries linger, the hardest part was facing his friend’s death. “He had no idea what happened, and when he

The damage was fatal for his friend that was struck and landed Fillmore in a coma for 10 days. “There was a good chance I would die,” the Utah cowboy said. “I had 32 broken bones and needed brain surgery. They told me there was a good chance I would never ride a horse again or walk and talk again.” Needless to say, his doctors didn’t think he’d ever swing a rope again, but that was the last thing his mom, Angie, was thinking about. “Honestly, we didn’t know if Jared was going to make it,” Angie said. “It was just so unreal.

Jared Fillmore recovers from near-death experience to succeed in ProRodeo

ProRodeo Sports News 4/3/2020

ProRodeo.com

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