A GOOD MORNING INSTANTLY SOURED:  Mr. Odom is an operator for an underground drilling company. His job is to install power lines and gas lines underground. On the morning of the injury, he was adding drill pipe to the other side of the river and was struck on the left side of his head by a long pole. He was knocked unconscious and suffered a traumatic brain injury, a compression fracture to his neck, and facial fractures.

ROAD TO RECOVERY: Mr. Odom was hospitalized for several weeks post-injury. He has no recollection of the injury or waking up in the hospital. He suffered a brain hemorrhage and required a craniotomy (a procedure where part of the skull is removed and replaced with a metal plate). He was not cognizant of what had happened for several weeks post-injury. Once he was discharged from the hospital, some events would come back to him in bits and pieces. He had home health care upon discharge due to extreme physical limitations. Everyday tasks that some take for granted became challenging. The hardest part was that he could not pick up his five-month-old daughter when he returned home.  

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: Jamie was determined to make a full recovery for his young daughter. He set daily goals for himself, such as getting from his recliner to his bed unassisted. If he didn’t make the goal for the day, he would try the next day again. Once he completed a goal, he would then set another one. This process made it possible for him to reach attainable goals and prevented him from getting discouraged.

THE SPEED AT WHICH HE RECOVERED WAS MIRACULOUS: Mr. Odom’s progress astonished everyone involved in his claim. His adjuster has seventeen years of experience and has never seen such a quick recovery with this type of injury. Mr. Odom returned to his pre-injury job four months after the accident. Jamie was very nervous about returning to work, but he knew he would be scared his whole life if he didn’t. He gave himself a pep talk and went back. He wanted to prove to himself that he could do it.

JAMIE CREDITS HIS POSITIVE MINDSET TO HIS QUICK RECOVERY: Jamie has always been an optimistic person, and he is aware that his progress would not have occurred so quickly without his mindset. While there were days that he was very down, he would work to stay positive to accomplish his goals. Jamie has stated that being negative “can take you to places you don’t want to be.” He says that his family and friends made a huge impact on his recovery and kept him going.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE: Jamie has prioritized physical wellness because it plays such an important role in daily activities. He has learned to spend more time with family and friends and regularly keep in touch. Before the injury, he would find it difficult to stay in communication due to work constraints. He works 21 days on and 21 days off, but he now prioritizes texting or calling loved ones often. He is very grateful for his recovery and takes nothing for granted. The most important takeaway from his experience is to enjoy every moment in your life because life can change instantly.