HORN LAKE, MS (abc24.com) - A Mississippi soldier is fighting for his life. Army Private Taylor Odom was injured during a training exercise at Fort Carson in Colorado November 6, 2012. He was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan in February but because of that injury he can't fly and needs a special ambulance to bring him back to Horn Lake, Mississippi. His family is asking for help to bring him home for Christmas.
Army Private Odom is 19 years old. He was in his third week of training in Colorado. Now he's learning how to walk again. He's also trying to find a way back home to be with his family and continue his treatment.
"To see a 19 year old laying there on life support and fighting for his life, no that's not a good feeling at all,” said Odom’s step-father Chris Taylor.
Chris Taylor watched Odom grow up. They're so close, Odom calls him "dad." Taylor says during a training exercise in Fort Carson, Colorado a humvee rolled over him, crushing the young solider.
"It rolled and he got thrown out from what we understand and it wound up partially laying on him,” said Chris Taylor.
Private Odom was in a coma for a week and was on life support. Now, he has broken bones, a collapsed lung, and the list goes on.
"Taylor's got a lot of brain damage,” said Odom’s step mother Brandi Taylor. “He has a lot of nightmares and screams for people that were with him to help.”
Private Odom's step-parents are hoping to bring him home by Christmas. They're even decorating the tree red, white, and blue in his honor. Odom’s biological mother is at his bedside in Colorado, also trying to figure out how to bring him home.
"I got a video of him last night of him and it broke my heart into a million pieces, him begging to come home,” said Brandi Taylor.
There is the problem. Private Odom can't fly because of his collapsed lung. He needs to come by ambulance. The military will pay some of the cost but the family has to come up with the rest, which is at least $5,000.
"We just need somebody, even if it's a dollar a person, anybody that knows Taylor and I know that's a lot of people here in Horn Lake to help,” said Brandi.
Odom is getting around with a walker but still needs a lot more rehab for his brain injury. The family is setting up a fund to bring him home. If you would like to help, contact Brandi Taylor at branditaylor621@yahoo.com.
