ProRodeo Sports News - April 3, 2020

found out his friend passed away it was hard and rough for Jared,” Angie said. “He wasn’t sure why she was taken and not him.” Fillmore had been part of an accelerated national baseball team and had qualified for the National Little Britches Rodeo. At the time, it seemed his rodeo dreams would never be more than just dreams. “I broke my right arm so bad that I couldn’t throw a baseball,” he said. “My bone was sticking through my skin.” Fillmore was in a coma for 10 days at the Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. He underwent two brain surgeries with Dr. Marion “Jack”Walker, a neurosurgeon famous for separating conjoined twins. A plate was implanted in his head and he had plastic surgery on his face. “He had a lot of broken bones, and the ROAD TO RECOVERY

Clay Guardipee photo While still competing on his permit, team roping heeler Jared Fillmore placed second in the Shoot- Out round at The American with header Colby Lovell. The duo took home $25,000 each.

“We said it was good he had horses after his accident because that pulled him out of despair.” Horses are often used in therapy of all varieties, and Fillmore’s was no different. “I’m big on horsemanship because they helped me through that recovery,” he said. “Horses were my way out.” His parents agreed, having watched how getting back in the saddle also helped him get back in the saddle of life.

main thing was he had bleeding on the brain,” said Fillmore’s dad, James. Doctors initially thought Fillmore would be in the hospital for about 10 weeks, but he didn’t like that plan. “He was so determined, he got out of there in three weeks,” Angie said. His armwas in a sling for about five months. While doctors had to connect his right arm and shoulder to his vertebrae, pinching his nerves around his shoulder and back (something he still suffers from), it didn’t stop him from picking up a rope as soon as he was out of the sling. “He started throwing the rope forever, over and over again,” Angie said.

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James Phifer photo Fillmore is the first in his family to compete in rodeo. His fascination with horses began at a young age and helped him through his rehabilitation.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/3/2020

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