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Arkansas Children's Hospital
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Arkansas Children's Northwest
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Eight Seconds
With your generous support of Arkansas Children’s, a Missouri teen is back to doing what he loves most.
Published date: April 27, 2026
By Aprille Spivey
To most of us, eight seconds pass in the blink of an eye. But to 16-year-old Cayson Hall, eight seconds means everything. “I just love the rush,” he says. During a bull riding competition on March 9, 2024, Cayson was thrown. The bull’s horn crushed his throat. “His airway completely exploded,” says his stepmom.
A Devastating Injury
Doctors had never seen an injury like it. “It was like a bomb had gone off,” says Dr. Andre Wineland. Cayson required a tracheostomy and was placed in a medically induced coma. There was no guarantee he would ever speak or eat normally again.
Recovery
Cayson spent 47 days at ACH and underwent 11 surgeries. His recovery was long and difficult. Small milestones — eating mashed potatoes, speaking again — became major victories.
Getting Back On
Through it all, Cayson had one question: “When can I get on another bull?” In September, he did. He lasted eight seconds. Soon after, he was competing — and winning.
