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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Badly Injured Bull Rider Is a Walking Miracle

By Harold Smith
Mountain View Telegraph
    Moriarty's Sky Chavez, in a miracle of modern medicine that was bolstered by many pleas to the Almighty, was actually walking around, albeit gingerly, in his cowboy boots Saturday.
    The 17-year-old bull rider was seriously injured and nearly died after a bull stomped on him at a rodeo in Arizona on July 15. He was sent home from University of New Mexico Hospital on Aug. 4.
    Sky, praise be, was out thanking folks for supporting the team roping competition held for his benefit at Moriarty's Heritage Arena on Saturday.
    The Estancia Valley Learning Center prep junior said it took all the cowboy-up he had to get through the ordeal, which cost him a kidney, a spleen and half his pancreas. In addition, his remaining kidney was bruised, and, as his father, Cayetano Chavez, said, "He'll always have problems with his back."
    Sky has been asked many a time how he stayed on this bull or that. But it took some real grit to fight off death.
    "It was prayers, and I tried my best," he said with a grim shake of the head. "It was pretty hard."
    Sky, at 5-foot-6, has always had a wiry frame, but he is now a gaunt likeness of his pre-injury self after many days on a liquid diet. He continues to recover, with his trademark determination still a major factor in its success.
    "Don't overdo it," his father cautioned as the two walked over to the roping chutes.
    Chavez is aware life isn't over for him, although bull riding undoubtedly won't be in the cards. He's glad to be alive.
    "But I don't know what I'm going to do yet," he said.
    On occasion Saturday, Chavez would retire to a trailer set up near the arena. Sometimes, he sat in a lounge chair under an awning, and every so often he lay down inside.
    "It's pretty hot out here," he said.
    The action was hot in the arena, too. Though it is a bit tamer than riding bulls, team roping takes athleticism and quickness as well.
    Tim Ortiz, 34, was the champion header and the big money winner of the day with a total purse of $950.
    "I won with my cousin (Stanley's Jamie Ortiz)," said Tim, an electrical contractor from the Moriarty area. "We practice every day. We've got our own steers. But it's not often you get to kick (backsides) all day."
    Jamie, a 40-year-old lineman for the Public Service Company of New Mexico, was the champion heeler.
    "It's your timing," he said. "You have to catch. If you miss, you're out. You've got to take the sure shot. When the feet go up, my rope goes forward."
    Brothers Al and Jerry Trujillo, who grew up in Moriarty, organized the benefit. Jerry said the event generated $2,188— including separate donations— that will help the Chavez family defray medical costs.
    Al lives in Lubbock, while Jerry calls Portales home now.
    "They're my cousins," Al said of the Chavezes. "The winning heeler and header were my cousins, too."
    Julia Chavez, Sky's mother, said the bills are starting to arrive.
    She doesn't know yet how much the family ultimately will have to shell out. It will depend on how much the insurance company pays.
    Jerry Trujillo said several sponsors donated prizes. As provided by announcer Sherel Whited, the supporters included James Salas of Windy J Ranch, Kenny Zamora of Zamora Roping Productions of Las Vegas, N.M., Clovis' One-Stop Feed Store, Clovis Vet Supply, Rudy Gabaldon, Clint Mortensen and Ruben Trujillo.
    "I'm overwhelmed," said Cayetano Chavez. "I grew up in Moriarty when it was a small town. It's grown. But Moriarty became a small town again. It came together for us.
    "And it wasn't just Moriarty. It was the whole Estancia Valley and beyond that. I get so emotional about it. I just want to thank everyone who has helped. I don't even know the people who's given money in the donation boxes.
    "I'm so happy that my son is still with us."