That Night

January 12, 2008

We are headed to the rodeo in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Peyton is riding a bull tonight. I don’t really want to go to a rodeo, but I do want to support my son. I know it will be a late night because bull riding is always the last event. Peyton is intense. We get to the arena and take our seats, waiting for his event to begin. Peyton is sitting with friends. When it is his turn to ride, Tom goes down to the chutes to pull his rope. I am ready with the camera. The bull is turned out and Peyton rides him for all he’s worth. He is bucked off. The next thing I hear is the announcer calling for the ambulance. The EMT’s are there putting him on the stretcher. Peyton’s arms are limp. I think, great he is knocked out again. He just had a concussion about 4 months before this. We go outside to get to the ambulance. The way the chutes are running we can’t get straight to the ambulance and have to walk around the building. One of Peyton’s fellow riders is leading us. He thinks the bull stepped on Peyton’s jaw. I think, his jaw will probably have to be wired shut.

We finally get around to the ambulance, they aren’t going anywhere. They are waiting on another ambulance. I don’t understand. Why aren’t they going to the hospital. One of the EMT’s tells me they are “working on him”. “Working on him for what?” I ask. He says there is no pulse. There are electrical impulses from his heart, but no pulse.

We get to our truck and follow the ambulance to the hospital. I can see them working on him through the ambulance doors. I try to pray but can’t seem to. I tell myself, this is your son’s life, you must fight for it. I began to pray like I have never prayed before. I commanded Satan to let go of my son. I quoted every scripture related to long life, authority, & weapons. I commanded his heart to beat and his lungs to breathe, over and over again, the same thing when we reached the hospital and were waiting. I did not stop praying, except to call other people to pray. I reached Pastor Susan and told her the situation. I talked to several others and asked them to pray. I prayed the Word of God, I talked to my mom, I told others that were calling, I can’t talk I have to pray for my son. I left the hallway to go to the bathroom. When I came out the doctor was there. Peyton was gone.

Tom and I went into the area where Peyton was. We knew "he" wasn’t there. We touched his face, kissed his forehead. We didn’t stay that long. I told Tom we need to get out of here. I felt if I thought too long about leaving I wouldn’t be able to leave.

We drove to Muldrow to Blaine’s house and picked up my car. Brock drove it home and Tom and I were in Tom’s truck. I remember asking Brock to ask his mom to make our bed. The clean sheets were in a pile on the bed, but I hadn’t put them on yet. I knew I couldn’t when I got home. When we arrived there were so many cars in our yard and driveway. It took me by surprise. I just thought people would come in the morning. We pulled into the garage and as my hand was on the door, I told Tom I don’t want to go in. I couldn’t imagine starting this new life. Of course we did go in. We had so many people there for us. With the technology of cell phones everyone had heard. I heard stories later of people driving to Muskogee to be with us, but we had already headed home. We got to bed about 3:30 and got up about 6:00.