TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute resident Jamie Bohannon remembers all the efforts fellow employees at Alorica Inc. made for her after tragedy struck with the death of her youngest son in August.
Now, Bohannon is working to give back to a fellow Alorica worker who is in the neuro-critical care unit at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Bohannon has baked at least 38 pies, plus numerous chocolate cakes cheesecakes and cookies in an effort to raise money for Laurie Oats, 45, of Rockville.
Oats was driving a pickup truck south on Indiana 47 on the night of Feb. 24, when her truck hit black ice near New Market in Montgomery County. The truck flipped on its side, then slid and struck a telephone pole.
“It’s overwhelming,” her daughter, Lauren Grant of Rockville, said Tuesday. “At first they said there was a slim chance that she would walk, but then they told us that she was a quadriplegic. She can talk, but now has a feeding tube and is on a respirator. They are supposed to put in a trach in her throat. That surgery is on Friday.
“She moves her lips and says she wants to come home,” Grant said. Her daughter said her mother had supplemental health insurance and has since signed up for Medicaid and Social Security Disability.
Grant said her mother worked Alorica for a year “and has a lot of friends there.”
Bohannon recalls Oats donating $100 as part of a fundraiser that collected more than $5,000 for her after the Aug. 16 shooting death of her youngest son, 14-month-old Travis Bohannon, in Midland, south of Jasonville. Ronald A. Bohannon, 30, the boy’s father, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for reckless homicide.
“That fundraiser helped out a lot and meant a lot,” Bohannon said. “Now, this is giving back to someone else who helped me. Laurie donated $100 to help raise more than $2,000, which was matched by Alorica. She took money out of her own pocket to help me, so I am returning the favor. That is part of being at Alorica. That is what we do, if one falls, we’ve got to pick everyone up.”
Alorica Inc. is a leading customer service management firm, opening its Terre Haute office at 1800 Fort Harrison Road in June 2008. The company employs more than 750 workers at its Terre Haute site.
Paula R. McMichael, team leader for Oats at Alorica, spearheaded efforts to help raise money for Oats. In addition to a bake sale, workers competed Tuesday in a karaoke contest sponsored by Eric Hites of Udder Guy’s DJ Service. Judges will select the best performance, with a prize of a DJ session.
On Friday, a balloon release will be held as part of the fundraiser. Each balloon is in Oats’ favorite color of blue, McMichael said. Dean’s Party Mania and Ace Hardware donated for that effort. Also, a raffle and silent auction will be held. McMichael received raffle and silent auction items donated from about 20 businesses, she said, such as Applebee’s Bar & Grill, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, Jiffy Mini Mart and Papa John’s Pizza.
McMichael also planned to set up an account at First Financial Bank for collections for Oats. McMichael said she has visited Oats in the hospital.
“It has been very shocking,” McMichael said. “My team members are like a big family. When I got the call after the accident, I told the team and they were pretty much devastated.
“We are just trying to help with some bills to help take the burden off of her and her family,” McMichael said.
Jodi Lewis, a friend of Oats from Thorntown in Boone County, has tried to visit Oats daily at Indianapolis.
“It is heartbreaking. She always thought I’d be in bed instead of her because I am so accident-prone,” Lewis said. “I don’t treat her any different when I see her. When I see her, I still say, ‘Hey ugly, what’s up?’” Lewis joked.
“She has a long way to go before rehab. We’re hoping she will be all right,” Lewis said.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
Top Story
Related Photos
-
Crooner: Antaiwan Donigan sings karaoke in the Alorica break room Tuesday afternoon. D.J. Eric Hite watches at right. Bob Poynter
-
Good time: D.J. Eric Hites has a good laugh as he listens to Antaiwan Donigan sign karaoke during a break on his shift at Alorica Tuesday afternoon. Bob Poynter
-
Fundraiser: A wide variety of pies and cakes line the table of the Alocica break room Tuesday afternoon. Bob Poynter
-
Karaoke: Alorica employee Ricky Bell sings karaoke during a break in his shift Tuesday afternoon. Bob Poynter
Discussion
Alorica employees raising money for injured co-worker
- Top Story
-
-
Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.
-
Indiana House approves right-to-work bill
Indiana’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives cleared the way Wednesday to become the first right-to-work state in a traditionally union-heavy Rust Belt increasingly targeted by non-union foes.
-
ISU men knock off No. 25 Vanderbilt 61-55
The Indiana State men's basketball team ended the game on a 16-2 run to defeat No. 25-ranked Vanderbilt on Saturday night 61-55.
-
Burglary suspect dies in police shooting
The shooting death this morning of a West Terre Haute burglary suspect is being investigated by the Vigo County Sheriff’s Department.
-
Dem caucus picks Crooks as 8th District candidate
From cities, farms and the towns in between, Democrat leaders of the “Bloody 8th” named Dave Crooks their man for 2012.
-
VIDEO: Will Ferrell stands at crossroads, odd locations in Terre Haute ads
America is at a crossroads, and Will Ferrell stands right in the middle of it.
-
VIDEO UPDATE: Will Ferrell’s Terre Haute beer ads hit the TV airwaves
That whirlwind visit to Terre Haute made by comic actor Will Ferrell three months ago had a purpose after all.
-
Bennett wins re-election in Terre Haute
Incumbent Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett won a resounding re-election victory Tuesday night.
-
BREAKING: Gibault walk-away dies following crash of stolen truck
The rear-seat passenger in a stolen pickup truck that crashed while fleeing an Indiana State Police trooper has died of his injuries. The crash occurred late last evening in the city limits of Terre Haute on U.S. 41 (Third Street) northbound at College Street.
-
UPDATE: Gadhafi, Libya’s leader for 42 years, killed
Moammar Gadhafi, who ruled Libya with a dictatorial grip for 42 years until he was ousted by his own people in an uprising that turned into a bloody civil war, was killed Thursday when revolutionary forces overwhelmed his hometown, Sirte, the last major bastion of resistance two months after his regime fell.
-
UPDATE: Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon dies after massive crash in Vegas
Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon died Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after his car became ensnarled in a fiery 15-car pileup, flew over another vehicle and landed in a catch fence just outside turn 2.
-
Hauteans do a double-take when Will Ferrell makes surprise appearance downtown (see Video)
Actor/comedian Will Ferrell was in downtown Terre Haute this morning at Seventh and Wabash, the Crossroads of America.
-
Special 9/11 section on Saturday
As part of the Tribune-Star's 10th anniversary coverage of the 9/11 attacks on New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa., we offer a special section — 9/11: Ten Years Later — in Saturday's print and online editions. The 10-page section includes more 9/11 memories and stories on how events on Sept. 11, 2001, changed life in the Wabash Valley.
-
9/11: Where were you?
As part of our coverage of the upcoming 10-year anniversary of 9/11, the Tribune-Star and Tribstar.com invite you to share your recollections with us and our legions of readers. We will compile responses and post them online in coming days.
-
SUNDAY UPDATE: 5 dead in Indiana State Fair stage collapse
Five people have now died and more than 40 injured when a stage collapsed Saturday night during a storm at the Indiana State Fair, where the country group Sugarland was set to perform.
-
Two new Brent Long memorial items in time for today's National Night Out
The Terre Haute Police Department has two new items for sale to benefit the Officer Brent Long fundraiser, available in time for the Terre Haute National Night Out celebration scheduled 5 to 9 p.m. today in Fairbanks Park.
-
PHOTO UPDATE 2: Abducted Terre Haute child recovered, suspects in custody
A Terre Haute boy abducted Tuesday has been recovered unharmed, and the two suspects in his abduction are in police custody.
-
PHOTO UPDATE: Hunt on for missing 4-year-old
Federal assistance has been requested in the case of a 4-year-old Terre Haute boy allegedly abducted Tuesday morning by a Terre Haute couple.
-
Arrest warrants issued in hunt for missing Terre Haute boy
Federal assistance has been requested in the case of a 4-year-old Terre Haute boy allegedly abducted Tuesday morning by a Terre Haute couple.
-
Country artist Miranda Lambert coming to Terre Haute
Miranda Lambert, a spunky shooting star on the Nashville scene, will bring her Revolution Continues Tour to ISU’s Hulman Center on Sept. 8.
-
Online Coverage: Funeral for Terre Haute Police Officer Brent D. Long
Timeline with remarks from today's service for Officer Long
-
Class A baseball: North Central rally comes up short in title game
Intimidated not at all by unfamiliar surroundings and an opponent quite used to those surroundings, North Central’s Thunderbirds battled Lafayette Central Catholic to the last pitch of the Class A high school baseball state championship game Friday night at Victory Field.
But the T-Birds made one mistake and got one bad break, and that was enough to give the Knights their fifth title by a 3-2 score. -
VIDEO: Dozens gather to help in search for missing 2002 North grad
Police in Plainfield reported no new developments Tuesday in the missing-person case of Morgan M. Johnson, a 2002 Terre Haute North Vigo High School graduate last seen nearly a month ago.
-
South, North Central claim baseball regional titles
Terre Haute South defeated Evansville Harrison 9-4 on Saturday night to win the Class 4A Evansville Regional, and North Central won the Class A Shakamak title with a 6-1 win over Bethesda Christian.
Earlier in the day, the Braves pounded Bloomington North in a long-lasting game in the het.
-
UPDATE: Putnam County fourth-grader correctly spells third-round word, nisei, in national spelling bee
Putnam County fourth-grader Addison Hughes correctly spelled the word “nisei” this afternoon in Round 3 of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Nisei means “a son or daughter of immigrant Japanese parents who is born and educated in America.” -
It’s a dream come true for long-time Indy 500 fan (See VIDEO)
Roaring at high speeds around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May is a race fan’s dream. For Joe Claretto, thanks to a surprise Christmas gift from his son, Greg, that dream came true last week — less than a week before the May 29 scheduled running of the Indianapolis 500, which is the 100th anniversary of the race.
-
UPDATE: Thousands remain without power across Terre Haute, southern Indiana
More than 35,000 homes and businesses remain without power in Indiana the morning after strong storms moved across the state.
-
NEW: Violent storms kill 13 in Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas
Violent storms with winds of more than 150 mph slammed into a chunk of the central U.S. overnight, killing at least 13 people in three states, flattening homes, crushing cars and ripping apart a rural Arkansas fire station.
-
UPDATE: Missouri tornado single deadliest in U.S. since 1950
A tornado that killed 117 people in Missouri was the single deadliest twister in the past 60 years, according to National Weather Service.
-
Five families make up more than 25 percent of Terre Haute Children’s Choir (See Video)
The Children's Choir will perform its spring concert at 7 p.m. May 13 in Central Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Seventh St.
- More Top Story Headlines
-
Raw Video: Biden Greets Chinese VP for Visit
Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub
Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Invitation Only
Raw Video: Heavy Shelling in Homs, Syria
New Details in Search for Missing Utah Mom
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Raw Video: 5 People Injured in Bangkok Blasts
Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death
Raw Video: Protesters, Security Clash in Bahrain
Raw Video: Kim Jong Il Statue Unveiled
Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star
Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home
Obama: Good US-China Ties Help the Whole World
Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J.
School Pays Students to Attend Class
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Obama's Valentine's Advice: 'Go Big'
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Kim K. Wet, Wild and Natural
Ultimate Tazer Ball is a Shocking New Sport
Shakira Attacked By Sea Lion
Modern day treasure hunter searching for $3 billion prize
What Happened Inside Whitney's Hotel Room?
Saying 'I Love You' With a Sewage Plant Tour
VS Models Wow for V-Day
Olympic Swimmer Proposes on Podium After Big Win
Kate Upton MLB 2K12 Commercial
Watch: Whitney Houston's Golden Hearse
Scarlett Johansson's Bikini P-D-A
Man Allegedly Drowns Wife While Scuba Diving
Glee Pays Tribute to Whitney
Wash. becomes 7th state to okay same-sex marriage
Romijn's 60 Pound Weight Loss
The 'Celebrity Apprentice' Cast Meets Donald Trump
Kissing contest heats up
Hugh Hefner's Son Arrested
Jacqueline Kennedy's personal papers released
Did Tyler Perry Have a Secret Wedding?
