TURNING POINT

It has been a roller coaster of a year. It started off slow spending 2 weeks in ICU, 30 days in the hospital, and 4 months in a chair not able to do much. Being told I would never ride again, and that I would have tubes sticking out of my body for almost a year. In ICU I had the most amazing nurses and doctors, but one in particular Dodie Hall really pushed me after I got upset over a doctor telling me I would never ride again, she told me that only I knew what I was capable of, not the doctors.

She would unhook me from my machines put me in a wheel chair in the middle of the night and take me outside for strolls around the hospital. She would say, we need to get you out in the fresh air, being stuck in that room is not good for you! She believed in me, and knew that I would overcome the obstacles laid before me. Fast forward 3 months. I astounded doctors with my rate of healing. Tubes started getting pulled, and I joked with my GI doctors asking if they could speed up the process and if they could have all my tubes out by July 4th so I could trick ride at a rodeo. All my scans were good, I had no leaks, my pancreas was healing amazingly well, and to my surprise they looked at me and said "Yes, I think we can get that done!" They went out of their way, would call me randomly and ask if I could come in because they had an opening and could do another downsize.

I had my last tube removed 4 days before I was to perform at a July 4th rodeo. Just 5 months after my accident. My favorite nurse Dodie Hall came to my first rodeo back to watch me. It was amazing! It was insane how my muscle memory was, and I went right back to trick riding. I was still weak, had to plan out my meals(because they still made me sick), someone had to drive me, it took a village to get me up and down the road. Everyone pitched in and helped me. I then went on to be awarded the True Grit Award thru the Mustang Heritage Foundation, then shortly after that I won the North American Trick Riding Championships. These things could not of been accomplished without my medical team, my family, my friends and God. Thankful and blessed beyond words does not begin to describe how this year was. Thank you to everyone that helped, donated money, donated time, prayed. Thankful for friends like

Kayla Miles and Amy Spivey
that ran a booth to help raise money.

Ann Souders
for getting on the phone and gathering people to pray. Thankful for my family that stood by my side the entire time. My dad, Herman Duke and my other mother Anne, taking the horses and taking care of them while I was down, dealing with the hospital bills, and making sure everything stayed on track. Kayla Miles for taking helping and taking care of their place so they could come stay with me in the hospital as well. My mom, Debbie Burton Duke who takes care of her mother and my 2 year old cousin, arranged for other caregivers for them and spent 30 days in the hospital with me. Kay Christal Martin for letting mom stay there at night to give her a break from the hospital. Daniel Duke, making sure that the doctors were monitoring me correctly, and knowing when I needed extra because he monitored my vitals so closely!

Brenda Burton
who spent a lot of time in the hospital with me.

Roy Ortiz
for all the pictures and videos, and keeping everyone updated! The Larsens for taking care of me. Everyone that came to visit me in the hospital, You guys were my rock! Thankful for my team Dynamite Dames Trick Riding, Tori Trickrider, Rose Phipps, Anna M. Alkire and Dusta Lee Kimzey for stepping up to the plate and fulfilling contracts. Thankful to the girls parents and family that helped as well. George Phipps, Tammy Phipps, Annas husband and daughter, Courtney Miller.

Extremely grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff at San Antonio Military Medical Center Bammc / Sammc. I kept them on their toes, and they had to think outside of the box to save my life and they did without question. There are so many people that I am grateful for, too many to post! My mustang and rodeo family really stepped up to the plate! Just know, if you are in my life in any shape or form, I love you and am incredibly grateful for our friendship wether in person or thru social media. Thank you to Rebecca Bowman and Cavin Graham for not giving me a choice on my magic mustang, and changing my life forever. I love you guys.