Help Heal a Cowboy

Coni Kornell is organizing this fundraiser.

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I'm posting on behalf of my husband, Bill Kornell (1963 RCA/PRCA World Champion Bull Rider). Bill began riding bulls professionally at the age of 16 and won the World when he was 19! For those of you who know about the paychecks today's Champions take home, you might be surprised to learn that Bill's total earnings for his Championship was a bit more than $15,000. He still maintains the title of being the youngest man to ever win the World. That same year he received the 'Oral Zumwalt Rookie of the Year Award' and was recognized by Sports Illustrated with their ' Award of Merit'. He went on to participate in seven National Finals Rodeos and continued to ride bulls and barebacks for the span of his twenty year career. A career-ending injury occurred at Grand Junction, CO in 1980 when a bull stepped on his leg nearly severing it from his body. While he would recover from the injury his career ended. Bill was sitting 13th for the World at that time. He and Donnie Gay were traveling together along with Monty Hensen.

Following a long recovery Bill was left with only his flying skills by which to earn his living. He flew the bush of Alaska for many years working mostly contract pilot positions.

Bill has continued his life as an active participant in whatever sports he could do. He participated in Dog Sled Racing, Triathlons, Running, Hunting and all things demanding. He has worked hard to maintain a high level of health through exercise and nutrition. Bill is now 76 years old and while he didn't plan for us to fail--we find ourselves existing on only Social Security with Medicare for insurance. Last year following several months of extreme pain Bill saw an Orthopedic Surgeon and learned that his back was in serious shape. He was suffering from severe scoliosis, degenerative discs, bulged discs, many prior fractures of his spine that healed poorly and severe stenosis of the low spine. The solution was major surgery with wire cages, fusions, opening of the spinal canal all coming with a guaranteed outcome anticipated to be total inability to continue his lifestyle. Bill is a healthy man. He has no illnesses, takes no medications (not even Tylenol) and his life evolves around staying active. He continues to fly and until this year when Covid caused the cancellation of his summer job he has made our living being a pilot. I am telling you all this so that you will know he is not your ordinary man. He works all the time and cannot sit still. To have his life restricted from activity would be the end for him.

Another Orthopedic Surgeon was sought to have a second opinion. Basically we were told the same thing as to the severity of his injuries. This surgeon has agreed to perform a surgery to relieve the stenosis and hopefully lessen Bill's pain. Bill's surgery is scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2020. While we can cover the co-pays associated with this major surgery, our next step is to have stem cell therapy which we are hopeful will assist with the rejuvenation of the other spinal problems. Insurance does not cover this treatment so we will be 100% out of pocket. As you may know, this is very expensive and as I said, we live on Social Security. It has taken Bill a long time to agree to let me do this--'Cowboy Pride'. He has worked for everything he ever had and to ask others for help is hard for him. He has finally agreed to let me set up a GoFundMe Account. Hopefully some of you remember Bill and perhaps he gave you some enjoyment in watching him ride. If so, please help us save him.

Here's Bill more recently when he was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas. His presenters are Donnie Gay and Pam Minick. To all who decide this is a worthwhile cause, please let us say "Thank You!" in advance. We will do our best to pay your kindness forward...