The youngster was left with nasty facial scars and has since undergone multiple surgeries to repair the wound, which needed 90 stitches.<\/p>\n
But Bridger said at the time, \u201cIf someone had to die, I thought it should be me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The now 7-year-old still stands by those words. His dad Robert Walker said his son isn\u2019t even bothered by his scar \u2013 he\u2019s proud of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife and I asked him, \u2018Do you want it to go away?\u2019 And he said, \u2018I don\u2019t want it to go all the way away,\u2019\u201d the father of five told People.
\n\u201cBridger views his scar as something to be proud of, but he also doesn\u2019t see it as being representative of his brave act. He just perceives it as, \u2018I was a brother and that\u2019s what brothers do.\u2019 It\u2019s a reminder that his sister didn\u2019t get hurt, and that she is okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
A year ago, Bridger Walker showed the world the courage that a human being can have. He saved his sister and because of that, he became an honorary world champion. Bridger Walker: \u201cThe bravest man on Earth\u201d.<\/p>\n
Posted by WBC Cares on Friday, July 9, 2021
\nHis aunt, Nikki Walker, shared his story at the time. Writing on Instagram, the proud aunt said this: \u201cMy nephew is a hero who saved his little sister from an attacking dog.\u201d<\/p>\n
She continued: \u201cHe, himself, took on the attack so that the dog wouldn\u2019t get his sister. He later said, \u2018If someone was going to die, I thought it should be me.\u2019 He got home from the hospital last night. I know it\u2019s a long shot, but I\u2019m reaching out to the Avengers and other heroes so that they can learn about this latest addition to their ranks.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her post she tagged a number of \u201csuperhero\u201d celebrities including Robert Downey Jr, who played Ironman and Chris Evans, who played Captain America, and they both responded to the story with video messages for the young hero.<\/p>\n
But Bridger\u2019s dad said his son isn\u2019t comfortable with being called a hero.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt almost bothers him sometimes when he\u2019s called a hero, because he [thinks], \u2018Maybe I could have done more to shield her,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The family is so grateful that so many of their son\u2019s heroes have reached out.<\/p>\n
\u201cChris Evans, his video was amazing and he sent the shield. Bridger couldn\u2019t have been more delighted,\u201d his dad said. \u201cWhen he talked to Tom Holland, he was probably the most starstruck because that was a live call so that one certainly left an impression\u2026 His emotional recovery was really a worldwide effort and that was so special to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite Bridger having to endure so many surgeries, there is still more work to be done.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still have a little bit more work to do on the superficial, redness part of it, but structurally everything looks so much better,\u201d dermatologist, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali said, who, after seeing his story, offered to fly him to his office in New York and provide treatment for free.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always told Robert, \u2018When Bridger\u2019s in junior high or high school, I want this to be a story he tells, not a memory he has to relive every day.\u2019 And I think we will have that situation,\u201d the big-hearted doctor added.<\/p>\n
Other Hollywood celebrities who have reached out include Anne Hathaway and Mark Ruffalo.<\/p>\n