Soul of 78: Jack Odom
Congenital Heart Disease Survivor
Words by Hannah Manasco | Image by Ryan McGill
Jack Odom is a miracle.
In May 2011, Crystal Odom and her husband, Josh, stared down at a positive pregnancy test. Excited and terrified, they knew their prayers had been answered.
After nine healthy months, Jack Aaron Odom was born at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, weighing 8lbs., 8oz. He was pure perfection. However, their joy quickly turned to panic when a nurse noticed something unusual: Baby Jack had a bluish tint.
A nurse reassured them that this was "super normal," as Jack had been born via C-section, and babies born that way "tend not to have to work as hard to get out." Despite her reassurance, a four-hour observation revealed a heart murmur, leading to a diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease.
A typical heart has two ventricles, or chambers, that pump blood in and out. In Jack's case, the wall separating these ventricles hadn't fully formed, causing blood to be pumped into his lungs instead of his body.
Overwhelmed with fear, Crystal and Josh learned their newborn would need a series of surgeries to treat his condition. Fortunately, Jack was able to skip the first of three planned surgeries and underwent his first open-heart surgery in April. The surgery, called the Glenn procedure, aimed to improve blood flow to his heart.
Amid this whirlwind, the Odoms discovered the true meaning of raw, genuine faith.
Though the surgery went well, Jack's oxygen levels continued to decline, and Crystal and Josh watched in horror as their baby crashed before their eyes. Jack was stabilized, but doctors were baffled by the cause of his sudden decline. Overwhelmed by the flood of calls and texts, Crystal started a blog to update everyone on his condition. She posted daily, and soon, #PrayersForBabyJack began appearing on cars, shop windows, and Facebook posts.
"We were not going to give up on our baby," Crystal says. "The whole world was praying and banging on Heaven's door."
Their prayers were answered by Dr. Jeffrey Alten, whom Crystal believes God used to perform the miracle that saved Jack.
Four years later, the family faced another critical moment when Jack needed a second surgery. Though they briefly relived their nightmare, Jack remained stable and healthy throughout his recovery.
Today, Jack is doing remarkably well. A lively and energetic child, Jack has brought joy and inspiration to all who know him.
"He's full of energy and life, and seeing him thrive is a daily reminder of God's faithfulness," says Crystal.
Faith has always been central to the Odom family, but after everything they've been through, it has become the foundation that sustains them.
"Faith was the key to getting through all of this," Crystal reflects. "Every time we thought we might lose him, our faith in God kept us going. We leaned on Him and on the prayers of those around us. We've truly seen what the power of prayer can do." 78