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.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Crooner: Antaiwan Donigan sings karaoke in the Alorica break room Tuesday afternoon. D.J. Eric Hite watches at right. Bob Poynter
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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
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Fundraiser: A wide variety of pies and cakes line the table of the Alocica break room Tuesday afternoon. Bob Poynter
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Karaoke: Alorica employee Ricky Bell sings karaoke during a break in his shift Tuesday afternoon. Bob Poynter
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