FALLING to the ground, I heard a huge crack and struggled to breathe, my whole body winded.
But I hadn’t been punched or kicked – instead, a 71st Highland cow had leapt on me during a family photo shoot at my daughter’s wedding, breaking my neck and back.
It was not something anyone could have predicted as we planned for the big day in October 2025.
When Zachary, 26, asked me and my husband Joseph for permission to marry Rose, 21 – the third of my four children – in December 2024, we were thrilled.
They’d been together for five years and were a perfect couple, living and working in Minnesota. And after a challenging time with my health, including having skin cancer and a rare gastric condition that led to my colon being removed, I couldn’t wait to throw myself into wedding planning and celebrating.
Rose found the rural wedding venue near where they lived in Minnesota, and couldn’t wait to tell me about the barn, surrounding fields and Highland cows.
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With their long, silky coats and huge brown eyes they were beautiful, she explained, and it was the perfect way to add some colour to the wedding pictures.
Determined that everything be perfect on the big day, I was super-careful.
I’m an adventurous person – I’ve been ziplining and snorkelling with sharks in the past, but I turned down a waterfall hike the day before the wedding, unwilling to take the risk of an accident.
Watching Rose and Zachary say their vows the next day made it all worth it, and after the speeches and buffet with their 65 guests, we headed out to the field for some sunset family photographs.
The cows were even more gorgeous than I’d imagined, and once the newlyweds had finished posing with them, I squatted down, kissed one on the nose and began petting it.
Then suddenly, it jumped up like an enormous dog, its hooves landing on my neck and shoulders. I heard a huge crack as I folded forward, hitting the ground.
At first, the adrenalin and shock kept the pain at bay, and I insisted I was fine and just needed a moment.
I was beside my 12-year-old daughter Emma at the time, who thankfully, was physically unharmed, but emotionally it was traumatic for her.
I was able to slowly get up and sit in my car, which was parked nearby, but then excruciating pain in my back and neck hit, and I struggled to breathe.
By the time my son drove me to A&E, I was screaming in agony.
After a CT scan, I heard the awful news that my neck and spine were broken and I was to be transferred to a larger hospital.
Doctors told me I must stay completely still, as I was at serious risk of being permanently paralysed.
I was terrified, but my thoughts turned to Rose, and I insisted Joseph only tell her I was being monitored. I didn’t want to ruin her day any further.
The following morning, Rose visited me in hospital, and she was devastated to find out how serious my injuries really were.
I spent a week in hospital before I was allowed to fly home to Florida for spinal surgery.
My recovery has been slow and painful, but the support from family and friends, including helping with medical costs, has been incredible. I need a wheelchair if I’m going out – I can walk and stand, but after a few minutes the pain becomes unbearable.
I still can’t work, and need help with daily tasks, such as running errands and grocery shopping, which I find very frustrating.
Doctors told me I was very lucky not to end up paralysed.
I’ve heard many horror stories about wedding day disasters, but I really think being jumped on by a huge cow is the most crazy and unpredictable.
Both Rose and I have managed to have a giggle about it, and it will definitely be one part of her wedding day she’ll never forget.
And nor will I!
- Visit Gofundme.com/f/help-my-mom-recover-after-a-wedding-day-tragedy.
