Latest news with #KallieWright
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Rodeo star's son remembered by family on 1-year anniversary of drowning death
One year after saddle bronc champion Spencer Wright's 3-year-old son tragically drowned in a Utah river, his mother reflected on the final moments they spent holding him. "A year ago, today, we held you as you took your last breaths," Kallie Wright wrote on Monday, June 2, in a post on Instagram alongside a photo of her and her husband with their young son, Levi, in his hospital bed. The child was removed from life support last year, about two weeks after he drove his toy tractor into the water while playing at his home in May 2024. Kallie shared that they held their son as he took his "last breaths." "They said it could take a day or 2. I was so scared I wouldn't be holding you when you left and that was so important to me," she wrote. "You stayed with us [for] 17 minutes. As you left, an overwhelming feeling came over me [and] I knew we had done right by you." "For me, this isn't the day you fully left us, but the day it became official," she said. "Levi, we talk about and think of you everyday. We live for you! Our love for you is stronger than ever." The family remained hopeful about their son's plight over a week following the accident, writing on social media that they aim to wean the boy off his breathing tube. However, on June 2, 2024, Kallie announced that "after several sleepless nights, lots of research, multiple conversations with the world's best neurologists & millions of prayers," the family knew it was "time." "Levi showed us just enough to buy us time for all of this," she wrote. "We prayed those things were him defying odds & proving to us that he wanted to stay here but we see now he wanted to give us time to find peace with letting him go." The accident came after the young boy fell off his toy tractor and into a river on the family's property in Utah. The toddler was airlifted to Beaver Valley Hospital after the accident in Beaver Creek on May 21, Fox News Digital previously reported. He remained in critical condition there until the family made the decision to take the boy off life support. Following his death, the family launched The Levi Wright Foundation, "where we hope to help families that face similar unimaginable situations in his memory," according to the organization's Facebook page. The Levi Wright Memorial Barrel Race is the group's next organized event. The toddler's father is ranked No. 40 in the world in saddle bronc riding. His grandfather, Bill Wright, is in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Spencer and his three brothers made history in 2014 when all four qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He ultimately won the championship. The family was the subject of the book "The Last Cowboys" and has been featured on an episode of "60 Minutes."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Levi Wright's parents emotionally reveal 3-year-old's final moments on one-year anniversary of tragic death
Levi Wright's mom and dad emotionally remembered their late son's final moments on the one-year anniversary of his accidental death. Last year in May 2024, their three-year son had been riding his toy tractor when he drove it into a raging creek near their home in Utah. Two weeks later, his mom Kallie and rodeo star father Spencer took their little boy off of life support after doctors said that he had suffered brain death due to oxygen deprivation while underwater. Kallie shared a new post on Monday to an Instagram page dedicated to Levi - and revealed both she and Spencer were able to hold their son as he passed away. 'A year ago today we held you as you took your last breaths,' she began alongside a photo of herself and her husband cradling Levi on a hospital bed. 'They said it could take a day or 2, I was so scared I wouldnt be holding you when you left and that was so important to me. You stayed with us 17 minutes.' 'A year ago today we held you as you took your last breaths,' she began alongside a photo of herself and her husband cradling Levi on a hospital bed Kallie continued, 'As you left an overwhelming feeling came over me & I knew we had done right by you. For me this isnt the day you fully left us but the day it became official. 'Levi we talk about and think of you everyday. We live for you! Our love for you is stronger than ever.' Upon his passing, the three-year-old was survived by his parents as well as older sister Steeley and little brother Brae. Kallie previously detailed her harrowing recollection of how the toddler was critically injured after driving his toy tractor into a raging creek near their family home in Beaver County, Utah on May 21 of last year. Levi was driving his tractor on their land and crossed the creek, which divided the property between theirs and Levi's grandparents. Kallie previously explained that the water in the creek 'only runs through for a short time during the year and can change overnight.' In a post post, she added, 'Levi did not do anything he hasn't done before, but this time the water was at its peak and strong enough to push his tractor off the road into the creek as he drove through.' According to a statement from the Beaver County Sheriff's Office, Levi was 'quickly located' and received 'life-saving measures.' Kallie dove into the creek to rescue her son after he disappeared beneath the surface of the fast-flowing waters. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance before being airlifted to the children's hospital in Salt Lake City. The initial prognosis was devastating as doctors concluded he suffered brain death due to oxygen deprivation while underwater. But his heart was beating on its own and Levi's dad said the family 'received multiple small miracles' and doctors were 'surprised by the strides he has made.' He survived 12 days in the hospital with flickers of hope that he could regain brain function before his devastated parents shared they had to say goodbye and turn off his life support on June 2. In the the obituary she wrote for her son, Kallie said that 'Levi was exceptionally thoughtful and considerate for his age. He was constantly thinking of others.' The grief-stricken mother continued: 'His heart was pure, tender, and oversized. Levi loved his sister, Steeley, and playing with her was one of his greatest joys.' During Levi's funeral, his sister - who was five at the time - gave a heartbreaking eulogy to her late brother. Steeley bravely climbed up on a stool behind the podium where she spoke of her immense adoration for her brother, with gentle encouragement from her mother. 'Levi was my best friend,' his brave sister told the audience of mourners. 'I loved coloring with him and reading books. We always have fun riding our bikes down the hills together.' Steeley added that she and her brother were fond of taking 'walks in front of the water' together. Levi's devastated sister concluded by saying: 'I miss my brother so much, but I'll love him forever.' On the same day of the funeral, Levi's mom Kallie posted a tender tribute to her son, entitled: 'We love you beans!' The video, which was posted on Facebook, was a montage of the different magical moments from Levi's short life. Viewers were able to see Levi as an infant, first learning how to say 'Mama' and 'Dada' as well as him often playing outdoors. Given Levi's passion for tractors and heavy equipment, it was only fitting that the montage includes multiple clips of the boy in different vehicles. Alongside a throwback photo with Levi as well as her other two children Steeley and Brae, she wrote: 'Mother's Day isn't quite the same when a piece of your mama heart is missing!' The video came to an end with a painting of Levi standing in a field across from Jesus. Last month in May, Kallie also took to the Instagram page dedicated to her son to share a moving Mother's Day post. Alongside a throwback photo with Levi as well as her other two children Steeley and Brae, she wrote: 'Mother's Day isn't quite the same when a piece of your mama heart is missing! 'To all my mamas that hurt a little extra on this day, I see you.'
