Story of Survival

This article appeared in the March 2009 issue of SuperLooper and the April 2009 issue of The Christian Ranchman. More information and appearances by Willie and Cranapple will be posted. Willie was recently donated a colt by Twin Kreek Ranch. Follow their story here. See you down the trail. Bennie Jean Kuehnle

Willie Hart at 17 - Graduation Photo

Willie and Cranapple 2008

Willie and Cranapple

Cowboy Up! An Amazing Story of Survival and a Life Regained

Meet Willie Hart. I first met Willie at a local tack store in Oklahoma. He was so friendly and helpful; you would have thought he owned the store. I paid no attention to his limp as he looked every bit the cowboy and since most cowboys I know all gimp around, I paid no notice. As I paid for my purchase and Willie was bagging everything up for me, I noticed his right arm was missing. Well, that probably accounted for the limp. I stood back and took my first real look at this tall, friendly, well-built young man. I then realized he looked familiar and placed him team roping at a recent rodeo in St. Jo, Texas. And then, with my usual tactful manner I said, "What the heck happened to you?" That question would begin a friendship that I highly value today with Willie Hart.

After hearing Willie's story, I knew it was worthy of being shared. Let us go back nine years. Willie Hart is living the all-American dream. He is a popular high school senior at Turner High School in Burneyville, Oklahoma, a basketball star, working part-time on a ranch in Shady Dale, has a great roping career ahead of him and a young colt he raised and trained himself since he was 10. His family is supportive; he has friends and a wonderful future ahead. On November 12, 1999 at 7 PM everything changed. Willie and his friend were heading to Marietta, Oklahoma from Leon on Hwy 32 when their truck struck a guardrail. Willie was thrown from the truck and did not wake up until February 8 and did not come home until March 31, 2000.

You can see Willie today riding in the arena building his loop, teaming up with different cowboys to rope, working at the sale barn in Muenster, Texas on Thursday, going about his daily life. What you did not see is Willie's friend, Dustin, crawling out of the wrecked truck, dazed but unhurt, frantically calling out for him. Their Ag teacher was feeding sheep in the pasture by the road when he heard the crash. He had come running and heard Dustin frantically calling out Willie's name. They could not find Willie. Willie had been thrown into the ditch and was hidden from view. They found his arm first.

While this young man clung to life, hundreds of supporters stood vigil for hours at the hospital in Marietta, OK even following him to Oklahoma City.

You could have not seen his mother driving up to the scene. She had received a phone call that there had been an accident, but the boys were all right. She told me that when they would not let her see him at the hospital, she knew he was badly hurt. One of the nurses asked if she could pray with her. You would not know that his Father was driving a truck out of town and before everyone had a cell phone, could not be reached immediately. Thank God for community and friends. Air Flight could not be arranged until a Vietnam Veteran pilot found out there was a teenage boy involved and he volunteered to fly with the medical team that saved Willie's life that night. What you also did not see were the following months of his Mother and Father's constant presence by his side, family and friends, medical staff and insurance professionals, each unknown and tiny pieces of the miracle that worked in the background while Willie stayed in God's hands.

When I asked Willie what his first thoughts were when he woke up from his coma, I actually asked him over the phone. As a survivor myself, I was even slightly hesitant to know the answer to that question. And after some hesitation I got his answer. "I screamed." As I write this, I am still shaken by those words and am even more determined to bring this story to the readers. I know Willie's story and his journey is important to share and beyond an inspiration. Yes, there are those who go beyond survival. And, I see Willie Hart as one of those individuals. But, do not be deceived that his road has not been without many obstacles and is still a rocky one. There was a time Willie was in a wheel chair. He got fat, discouraged and lazy. One day he said, OK, that's enough of that. And, he just stopped being lazy. He made himself get up and get going. Willie had come out of a coma on February 8 and was released from Baylor Rehab on March 31, 2000 where he continued rehabilitation at home for many months. His recovery was slow and took years.

Even now, there are things that he must endure. Phantom limb pain is a constant companion. But, Willie makes a choice. Even on those days when life seems a backlash of barbed wire, he untangles the knots and goes on. After all, he was spared and a gift given is not to be wasted.

The doctors told Willie he would never be able to ride again, much less rope, because his brain had been so severely injured it would never take the stress. Willie told the doctors they were wrong. While in therapy, he explained his dream of roping and was able to get specific exercises to strengthen his left arm. When he got home, he practiced on the roping dummy while in his wheelchair. His horse, Cranapple, was another Godsend. Already trained to rope by Willie, it was just another step for this determined young man and his horse. He learned to halter, bridle and saddle, drive and do all the things it would take to be totally self-sufficient. He can even tie his shoes, thankfully, most of the time he wears boots. I think he wears sneakers just to show he can. He does have a sense of humor. Willie had a saddle smith make a belt from a bucking horse buckle and latigo strap to secure him in the saddle and they entered their first team roping. He has since roped at Larry Mahan's ranch at Sunset, Texas and teamed up with Charles Pogue, Colt Brusk and many others.

And, how can we honor this great horse who has never been to the NFR or won a race? This horse has the heart of a true champion. Since Willie had him from the day he was born, they already had an incredible bond. However, after the accident, it was almost as if Cranapple knew his role was special. Willie said when he first tried roping left-handed; he kept hitting Cranapple in the head over and over again. You would think the horse would be head shy, but he took it in stride. And with Willie's right leg injury, he could not give Cranapple the proper leg cues, but the horse again responded. It is difficult to change a horse from right to left handed roping, but Cranapple adapted easily. It is amazing to watch the two as they pursue their love of roping. Actually, I think horses must have a sense of humor as I have said that Willie loves roping and Cranapple tolerates it.

But, if you think this was easy, just ask Willie and his family. Coming home from rehab and just waking up from a coma, his body and mind were badly wounded. But, the soul and spirit of this young cowboy would carry him when he felt like giving up. Getting on his horse for the first time and learning to tie his shoes were both of equal value. Sunday's found Willie at church. His deep faith had been greatly tested and when times were hardest, God was always there as Willie continued to grow and heal. His pastor and church family are still supportive of Willie.

It is the adversities that impel some into action. Where some become discouraged and give up, to others, adversity becomes an action verb. How do you begin to overcome those obstacles? It is one thing to read a story about someone who has overcome a great obstacle, but getting there is a road many are not willing to travel because it is filled with obstacles. It is beyond survival, more than just getting over or coming out. Giving up may seem easier, but is not a choice for some, although a thought often entertained. What would you do? We can never know unless we are plunged into an encounter with the unknown. It is said that a man's true nature is known by his behavior in crisis. We can also know our own heart by how we behave when no one is watching. It does not mean that we don't get discouraged or disheartened. It does not mean that life is not unfair. It simply means that when the sun comes up, we take what we are given and give gratitude and like dropping a pebble into a pond, the ripples are far reaching as we choose how we use what gifts we are given in this life to serve and help others as does this man who has lost so much and yet touches so many with his positive attitude and winning smile.

So, what would you do? Could you cowboy up?

Article by Bennie Jean Kuehnle
Super Looper March 2009