A little boy who was savaged by a dog after heroically protecting his younger sister says he's "proud" of his scars.
According to People magazine, seven-year-old Bridger Walker, who hails from Cheyenne in Wyoming, made headlines back in 2020 after he saved his sibling's life from an enraged German Shepherd.
The boy - who was six at the time - managed to drive the dog away but was badly mauled by the animal. He was hospitalized and needed 90 stitches and has been left with scars on the left side of his face as a result
However, in an interview with People, Bridger's father, Robert, claimed that his courageous son does not see his scars as a burden.
Per People, Robert stated: "My wife and I asked him, 'Do you want it to go away?' And he said: 'I don't want it to go all the way away.'
The doting dad continued:
"Bridger views his scar as something to be proud of, but he also doesn't see it as being representative of his brave act. He just perceives it as: 'I was a brother and that's what brothers do.'
"It's a reminder that his sister didn't get hurt, and that she is okay. It almost bothers him sometimes when he's called a hero, because he [thinks], 'Maybe I could have done more to shield her.'"
Bridger managed to become an inadvertent celebrity in the aftermath of the incident when his aunt, Nikki Walker, shared his incredible story in a post made on Instagram.
The post quickly went viral, accruing over 1.5 million likes on the platform and thousands of more comments.
For instance, Captain America star Chris Evans spoke to the child in a heartwarming message, which Nikki also shared on social media.
Other members of the Avengers, such as Brie Larson, Tom Holland, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr also paid tribute to Bridger.
Dermatologists Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali and Dr. Cory B. Maughan also heard about the boy's plight and provided free treatment for his injuries, which have gone some way to easing his recovery.
A six-year-old boy who sustained horrific facial injuries in a dog attack from which he was saving his sister, has shown off his five-month recovery.
Bridger Walker from Cheyenne, Wyoming, received 90 stitches following the incident which took place last July. He was also left with a large scar on his left cheek.
Bridger had stood in the way of the dog that ended up attacking him when it came running in the direction of his four-year-old sister. His incredible story became viral after his aunt, Nikki Walker shared it on Instagram.
She wrote:
"My nephew is a hero who saved his little sister from an attacking dog. He, himself, took on the attack so that the dog wouldn’t get his sister. He later said, 'If someone was going to die, I thought it should be me.'
"He got home from the hospital last night. I know it’s a long shot, but I’m reaching out to the Avengers and other heroes so that they can learn about this latest addition to their ranks.
"Please, check your DM’s for my sweet nephew’s story."
In the wake of the post, many members of the Avengers cast, including Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans, praised the young boy's selflessness.
It has now been over five months since the attack, and last month, the six-year-old's dad Robert Walker posted photos of Bridger's healing face, describing his progress as "nothing short of miraculous".
"Bridger has now had three laser treatments, and at his last treatment he also had a steroid injection to help with some of the tightness," he wrote in a caption accompanying a set of striking before and after photos.
"Bridger has full sensation, does not have any drooping, and has not lost any muscle control," he continued. "We have gone from genuinely wondering whether he would ever smile again to hardly noticing his scars."
The young boy's scars have been given the best opportunity to heal thanks to the help of several dermatology experts including Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, Dr. Cory B. Maughan, and Dr. Sandra Lee (also known as Dr. Pimple Popper).
These top skin experts have been treating Bridger pro bono after learning about the awful attack when it made headlines last year.
"We are so very grateful for what @drbhanusali and @corymaughan have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time," Robert said, explaining that his son has remained "shy" around dogs but is "slowly getting over his fears".
In a more recent set of snaps posted in January 2, Bridger looks happy posing with the family’s new puppy, Loki.
A six-year-old boy has been declared a hero after saving his little sister from a savage dog attack.
Six-year-old Bridger Walker, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, put his life at risk when a dog approached him and his sister and proceeded to attack her.
Following the incident, the children's' aunt, Nikki Walker, posted an account of the horrifying series of events on Instagram in the hope of contacting Bridger's heroes, the Avengers actors.
She wrote: "My nephew is a hero who saved his little sister from an attacking dog. He, himself, took on the attack so that the dog wouldn't get his sister."
When Bridger was asked why he put himself at risk to save his little sister, he replied: "If someone was going to die, I thought it should be me."
Bridger was taken to hospital after the incident to receive treatment for his injuries, but thankfully, he has already been discharged.
As of this writing, the post has received over 354,000 likes and more than 17,500 comments in two days - many of which hail Bridger as a hero:
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Nikki asked as many people as possible to share her post in the hope of getting Bridger a shoutout from a Marvel superhero actor.
In a separate post, Nikki said: "After getting bit several times on the face and head, he grabbed his sister's hand and ran with her to keep her safe. After receiving 90 stitches (give or take) from a skilled plastic surgeon, he's finally resting at home. We love our brave boy."
Nikki wrote in an Instagram update: "His wounds are looking so much better! He's in great spirits, and his awesome personality is intact.
"He can't smile too widely yet, but he was grinning as I read some of your comments to him. I'd also like to mention here that the dog's owners are really great people who have been nothing but kind to Bridger and his family.
"We feel no resentment toward them at all, and - if anything - there's only been an increase of love between our families as a result of this incident."
While some people have suggested starting a GoFundMe to help the six-year-old in his recovery from the attack, Nikki has instead asked for anyone inspired by the story to donate to Mission 22 or Wounded Warrior Project.
Bridger also has a keen interest in geology and Nikki has included a postal address for anyone who wants to send him pictures of rocks as he recovers.
Chris Evans - aka Captain America - has sent a heartwarming video message to the young boy who put his life on the line to save his little sister from an attacking dog.
Six-year-old Bridger's story was shared by his aunt, Nicole Walker, who recounted his bravery in jumping between his little sister and an angry "German Shepherd mix", which has since been put to sleep.
Following the attack, the younger was taken to hospital where he received around 90 stitches to help repair his face wounds.
His aunt subsequently took to Instagram to ask his favorites superheroes, the Avengers, to give the young hero-in-training a shoutout.
Recounting the attack on Instagram, Nicole wrote: "My nephew is a hero who saved his little sister from an attacking dog.
"He, himself, took on the attack so that the dog wouldn't get his sister. He later said, 'If someone was going to die, I thought it should be me.'"
"I know it's a long shot, but I'm reaching out to the Avengers and other heroes so that they can learn about this latest addition to their ranks."
And lo and behold, Chris Evan, who plays the respectable Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has responded with a video that I'm sure is going to make little Bridger's day.
Check out Evans' video below, along with Bridger's response:
In the video, the 39-year-old actor says: "This is a message for Bridger. Hey Bridger, Captain America here, how you doing buddy? So, I read your story and saw what you did. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of this over the last couple of days, but pal, you’re a hero.
"What you did was so brave and so selfless, your sister is so lucky to have you as a big brother. Your parents must be so proud of you. I’m going to track down your address and send you an authentic Captain America shield because, pal, you deserve it."
The Avengers star added: "Keep being the man you are, we need people like you. Hang in there, I know recovery might be tough, but based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think there is much that can slow you down. Bye buddy."
Bridger - who was adorably dressed in his Captain America costume - seemed to be left speechless by Evans response, while his younger sister said she thought the video was "awesome".
Nicole also provided a postal address for anyone to send the six-year-old pictures of cool looking rocks as he has a keen interest in geology.
It wasn't long before Ruffalo - aka, The Incredible Hulk - caught sight of Hathaway's post and gave the youngster another superhero shoutout that he deserves.
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Commenting on Nicole's original post, he wrote: "Dear Bridger, I just read about what happened to you and I wanted to reach out to say this… People who put the well beings of others in front of themselves are the most heroic and thoughtful people I know.
"I truly respect and admire your courage and your heart. Real courage isn't dominating people or fighting against people or walking around like a tough guy. Real courage is knowing what is right to do and doing it even when it might end up hurting you somehow."
"You are more of man than many, many I have seen or known. With Admiration… Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk/Professor)."
And Evans and Ruffalo's sentiments have been echoed by many other famous faces in the comments section.
Another superhero, The Flash star Robbie Amell added: "A real hero. Get better soon Bridger".
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Self Made actress Octavia Spencer also commented, writing: "I’m not an avenger but I know and appreciate them as I appreciate your little hero. Angel hugs for you."
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Vanessa Morgan, star of Riverdale, also commented, saying: "So brave!!! Best big brother & True hero. Get better soon."
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I cannot wait to see the rest of the Avengers assemble to give this young boy the praise he truly deserves!
Earlier the week, the story of a little six-year-old boy went viral after it was revealed that he had put his life on the line in order to save his young sister from a dog attack.
Sharing young his story on Instagram, Bridger Walker's auntie, Nicole, wrote: "Hey, all. Please, share my nephew’s story so that it gets as much exposure as it can. We know that our little hero would love some words of encouragement from his favorite heroes.
"On July 9th, my six-year-old nephew Bridger saved his little sister’s life by standing between her and a charging dog. After getting bit several times on the face and head, he grabbed his sister’s hand and ran with her to keep her safe.
"He later said, 'If someone had to die, I thought it should be me.' After receiving 90 stitches (give or take) from a skilled plastic surgeon, he’s finally resting at home. We love our brave boy and want all the other superheroes to know about this latest hero who joined their ranks."
The youngster was left with injuries nobody - especially a child - should have to live with, but seeing as Bridger is a huge Avengers fan, his auntie campaigned to get the Marvel stars to send her nephew some words of encouragement.
The young superhero-in-training has already received messages from Avengers stars Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans (who is sending the six-year-old his own Captain America shield), Tom Holland, and Chris Hemsworth.
Now, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. has sent Bridger a message of his own, which was later shared by his auntie on Instagram.
In the touching message, Downey says: "Bridger, you're a rockstar. My name's Robert Downey Jr., I play Tony [Stark], that makes me an old friend of Cap's. I heard he sent a shield your way: I'm going to do one better.
"You call me on your next birthday, I got something special for you. Late - By the way, that's a promise; a promise beats a shield."
I can't even imagine what billionaire, playboy, genius, philanthropist Tony Stark has up his sleeve for young Bridger.
However, Nicole did mention in the video caption that "we just celebrated Bridger’s birthday not too long ago, so it will be a while before we find out what the surprise is."
I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
And let's take a look at what the other Avengers have had to say about Bridger's bravery.
Thor star Chris Hemsworth shared a video with his fans telling them all about Bridger's heroism, praising the six-year-old as "an absolute inspiration".
Hemsworth added: "Your courage is beyond belief and we are all so impressed by you, and we're thinking of you.
"I know you're an Avengers fan and so myself and all the team, we'd be honored to have you on the team, and we love you and we're sending you our support."
Bridger also received a video call from Tom Holland who plays Spider-Man in the MCU. The call took place on Thursday (July 16), and Holland can be heard telling Bridger: "You are so brave, mate, and we are all so proud of you and your little sister is so lucky to have you."
Holland then asks Bridger - who is wearing his best Spider-Man costume - what movie he was watching, to which the youngster replies: "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
This causes Holland to joke: "You’re even more of a hero now!"
Holland then invites Bridger to visit the set of the third installment of this Spider-Man series, telling the six-year-old: "You’ll always be my guest."
Chris Evans - aka Steve Rogers/Captain America - also sent a heartwarming video message to the young boy.
In the video, the 39-year-old actor says: "This is a message for Bridger. Hey Bridger, Captain America here, how you doing buddy? So, I read your story and saw what you did. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of this over the last couple of days, but pal, you’re a hero.
"What you did was so brave and so selfless, your sister is so lucky to have you as a big brother. Your parents must be so proud of you. I’m going to track down your address and send you an authentic Captain America shield because, pal, you deserve it."
The Avengers star added: "Keep being the man you are, we need people like you. Hang in there, I know recovery might be tough, but based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think there is much that can slow you down. Bye buddy."
But the first Avenger to send his support to Bridger was Mark Ruffalo, who plays The Incredible Hulk in the MCU (except that one movie that we don't talk about.)
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Commenting on Nicole's original post, Ruffalo wrote: "Dear Bridger, I just read about what happened to you and I wanted to reach out to say this… People who put the well beings of others in front of themselves are the most heroic and thoughtful people I know.
"I truly respect and admire your courage and your heart. Real courage isn't dominating people or fighting against people or walking around like a tough guy. Real courage is knowing what is right to do and doing it even when it might end up hurting you somehow."
"You are more of man than many, many I have seen or known. With Admiration… Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk/Professor)."
That's right, this kid is literally friends with FIVE Avengers!
Last week, the heroic story of a boy who put his life on the line to save his younger sister from a savage dog attack went viral - and for good reason.
The boy's aunt, Nikki Walker, subsequently took to Instagram to share the horrifying story in a bid to get six-year-old Bridger Walker, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, a shoutout from his heroes, the Avengers (or, at least, the actors who play them).
She wrote: "My nephew is a hero who saved his little sister from an attacking dog. He, himself, took on the attack so that the dog wouldn't get his sister."
When Bridger was asked why he put himself at risk to save his little sister, he replied: "If someone was going to die, I thought it should be me."
It wasn't long before Bridger's story caught the attention of some very famous faces, including many of the beloved MCU stars.
However, until now, Bridger didn't have a shoutout from Star-Lord himself, Chris Pratt (or Owen from Jurrasic World depending on your franchise preferences).
But that's all changed, and now Pratt has taken to Instagram to praise Bridger for his real-life heroic actions.
Watch Pratt's heartwarming message to Bridger below:
Alongside the video, Pratt wrote: "Bridger Walker is a true hero. If you haven't had the opportunity to see the story of young Bridger Walker be sure to look him up. Check the link in my bio.
"This young man exemplifies courage, having done the unthinkable in the face of fear to protect someone he loves. What an inspiring story. I felt compelled to make this video. Hopefully, it will put a smile on his face.
"His Auntie Nicole reached out to me and I figured the very least I could do was acknowledge him for a moment.
"I think we could all benefit from asking ourselves when was the last time we did something courageous. And who do we look up to? Who in our lives puts their life on the line in the name of safety? They are the true heroes."
Prior to Pratt giving Bridger the acknowledgment he deserves, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. also sent Bridger a message of his own, which was later shared by his auntie on Instagram.
In the touching message, Downey says: "Bridger, you're a rockstar. My name's Robert Downey Jr., I play Tony [Stark], that makes me an old friend of Cap's. I heard he sent a shield your way: I'm going to do one better.
"You call me on your next birthday, I got something special for you. Late - By the way, that's a promise; a promise beats a shield."
I can't even imagine what billionaire, playboy, genius, philanthropist Tony Stark has up his sleeve for young Bridger.
However, Nicole did mention in the video caption that "we just celebrated Bridger’s birthday not too long ago, so it will be a while before we find out what the surprise is."
I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
And let's take a look at what the other Avengers have had to say about Bridger's bravery.
Thor star Chris Hemsworth shared a video with his fans telling them all about Bridger's heroism, praising the six-year-old as "an absolute inspiration".
Hemsworth added: "Your courage is beyond belief and we are all so impressed by you, and we're thinking of you.
"I know you're an Avengers fan and so myself and all the team, we'd be honored to have you on the team, and we love you and we're sending you our support."
Bridger also received a video call from Tom Holland who plays Spider-Man in the MCU. The call took place on Thursday (July 16), and Holland can be heard telling Bridger: "You are so brave, mate, and we are all so proud of you and your little sister is so lucky to have you."
Holland then asks Bridger - who is wearing his best Spider-Man costume - what movie he was watching, to which the youngster replies: "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
This causes Holland to joke: "You’re even more of a hero now!"
Holland then invites Bridger to visit the set of the third installment of this Spider-Man series, telling the six-year-old: "You’ll always be my guest."
Chris Evans - aka Steve Rogers/Captain America - also sent a heartwarming video message to the young boy.
In the video, the 39-year-old actor says: "This is a message for Bridger. Hey Bridger, Captain America here, how you doing buddy? So, I read your story and saw what you did. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of this over the last couple of days, but pal, you’re a hero.
"What you did was so brave and so selfless, your sister is so lucky to have you as a big brother. Your parents must be so proud of you. I’m going to track down your address and send you an authentic Captain America shield because, pal, you deserve it."
The Avengers star added: "Keep being the man you are, we need people like you. Hang in there, I know recovery might be tough, but based on what I’ve seen, I don’t think there is much that can slow you down. Bye buddy."
But the first Avenger to send his support to Bridger was Mark Ruffalo, who plays The Incredible Hulk in the MCU (except that one movie that we don't talk about.)
[[imagecaption|| Credit: Instagram]]
Commenting on Nicole's original post, Ruffalo wrote: "Dear Bridger, I just read about what happened to you and I wanted to reach out to say this… People who put the well beings of others in front of themselves are the most heroic and thoughtful people I know.
"I truly respect and admire your courage and your heart. Real courage isn't dominating people or fighting against people or walking around like a tough guy. Real courage is knowing what is right to do and doing it even when it might end up hurting you somehow."
"You are more of man than many, many I have seen or known. With Admiration… Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk/Professor)."
This six-year-old literally has a better group of friends than me...
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