Torrance Man Injured In Boston Bombings Remains In Critical Condition
REDONDO BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A Torrance businessman who was injured in last week's Boston Marathon bombings remains in critical condition.
John Odom went to Boston with his wife, Karen, to catch a Red Sox game and see their daughter, Nicole Reis, cross the finish line at the April 15 race.
Before his daughter made it to the end, however, the first bomb detonated.
Shrapnel went through both of Odom's legs and severed an artery.
So far, he's had seven surgeries.
Doug Nicol, Odom's brother-in-law, said he's been in constant communication with his family in Boston.
"A week ago, things didn't look too good. Every day, it looks better. His legs aren't gone, so that's good. But they're really torn up," he said. "They're bringing in battlefield surgeons and specialists that work with that kind of thing."
Nicol said he has worries about Karen, who took the East Coast trip with her husband to kick off their retirement.
"Right at the start of their journey, they got the rug pulled out from under them," he said.
Nicol told KCAL9's Serene Branson that he goes from anguish to anger when he thinks about bombing suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
"What the guy did changed everything for a lot of people…thousands of people," he said.
Nicol said he's outraged that the brothers allegedly planted the bombs for the sake of jihad.
"Take their selfish beliefs and take them out of here. If you don't dig us, you can split, that's how I feel," he said.
Nicol said he's focused on bringing Odom home.
"I just want to thank all the people doing fundraising and all the prayers. I believe in the power of prayer," he said.
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