UPDATE - Thursday's surgery was successful. The next step is still on track for Friday, May 29th.
No matter how many times you hear it referred to as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world no one is ever prepared to see one of them get injured seriously. Andy Thompson, Auburn, IA, will under go surgery on Thursday, May 28th, for a broken neck he received on April 3rd at the National Federation of Professional Bullriders Federation Finals in St. Joseph, MO. Andy took an extremely hard hit while protecting a bull rider Craig Sasse after his ride. Fast action by the Rodeo Attitude Sports Medicine Team and the ambulance crew that was on site transported Andy to the hospital where he underwent emergency treatment. It was determined that Andy had displaced his C5 vertebra, which had a crack that extended to the C6 vertebra, which was listed as a fracture. Andy was placed in a neck brace hoping that surgery would not be necessary. Sadly doctors have now determined that the injury is not healing and three surgeries will be required to fix the problem. The first will be on Thursday, May 28th followed by the second step on Friday, May 29th. The final step will be determined by the success of the first two and healing.
Andy spoke prior to the NFPB Federation Finals of how excited and honored he was to be one of the men voted by the bull riders to protect them at the finals. Andy was one of the original members of the Rodeo Attitude Program and had proudly entered the arena at the finals with a big smile and a bright new jersey bearing the Rodeo Attitude logo. It was extremely hard to watch him loaded into the ambulance that night after a friendship of almost 12 years promoting his bullfighting career. Andy views all of this as just a minor pause in his career and has a wonderful attitude about his future.
Reality is – he has not been able to work since April 3rd and with this surgery, recovery and rehab it will be some time before he will be back on the payroll. Rodeo Attitude Program members along with a large group of friends and business associates will be hosting an online auction to help Andy with medical expenses and personal expenses. Donations are being accepted now and the auction will be posted in a few days. Anyone wishing to make donate an item for the auction or to make a cash donation may contact Ben Thompson at 660-287-4483.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Photo courtesy Howard Sears Photography.
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