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Cockerham stable after surgery
Published Friday, October 10, 2008
JACKSON — Just one day after being critically injured in a Vidalia bus accident, James Cockerham is resting in a Jackson hospital and preparing for a second round of surgeries.
Cockerham, the driver of the bus, was airlifted to Jackson after the accident and was in surgery from 9 p.m. Wednesday until 5 a.m. Thursday morning.
Cockerham’s daughter, Pam Frank, said the first surgery was meant to clean Cockerham’s wounds and stabilize his legs.
Both of Cockerham’s legs were broken in the accident, and he also sustained a major facial laceration that cut an artery, Frank said.
“He has a long road of recovery,” Frank said.
On Friday, Cockerham will undergo another round of surgery on his legs.
“That’s a big surgery,” Frank said.
Frank said she has been told by nurses her father will likely spend the next five days in the intensive care unit and possibly one month recovering in Jackson.
In addition to her family’s concern for her father, Frank said she also has a growing concern for her mother, Cockerham’s wife.
“She’s hurting real bad,” she said.
And while Cockerham’s family struggles with their father’s condition, Frank said the calls of support the family has been getting have helped.
“We appreciate all the prayers,” she said.
Comments
Posted by lookingout (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why would you say that kindness
Posted by rperez (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
KINDNESS THAT WAS SO RUDE AND UNCALLED FOR!!!!!!
I hope you have a safe and fast recovery, My thoughts and prayers are with the Cockerham Family!!!!
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kindness has a name she can't live up to.
Posted by bchandler24 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That was strictly uncall for!!! How would you like it if someone said that about your family,or friend? !!!!!!!!!!
Sue,I will keep you in our prayers and thoughts that Mr.James is better real soon,and home once again,and most surely checking on those precious children himself!!!
Shirley,(Carol,your cousins sister)
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 3:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bless his heart. I hope he has a smooth recovery.
Posted by babev1 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 4:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kidness you are a very rude person. Thank God everybody is doing good and no one was killed, My prayers go out to the Cockerham family and everyone that was hurt on that bus. SHAME ON YOU KINDNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE ONE THAT IS A DIRTY PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 4:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
God Bless Them All...............
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank goodness Mr. Cockerham & children are going to be ok. It could have been so much worse.
I'm a little confused about why everyone is talking about kindness. Anyone want to fill me in?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I missed that one too dixie!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was praying Mr. Cockerham would pull through
thank you Lord for hearing my/our prayers
A couple of kids I know were in that wreck. They are adamant that the garbage truck whooped over in front of the bus and slammed on the brakes. Why? I don't know.
But that is NOT a very defensive way to be driving a large truck in close quarters to a school bus.
Any commercial truck driver should know better and show respect and care on the road for a school bus.
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have spoken to several of the students on the bus and they were on the front row of the bus. They all have the same story the that the sun was really bad, and the driver of the bus did not see the garbage truck stopped at the red light. This was an accident, quit trying to blame someone.
Posted by getitright (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We should pray for kindness as well as Mr. Cockerham and his family. May God ease their pain and suffering and allow courage and strength to enter all of them.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Still Praying!!!!
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mskitty, you didn't speak to my grandchild then, who was 4 seats back from the front of the bus, and reported to us that the men from the garbage truck were saying they were sorry and that they didn't see the bus.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the kids I've talked to were at the front of the bus also
other than blame, there are a few points that the kids talk about which I agree with
1) there are NO sun visors on the bus for the driver, I was shocked that a basic piece of equipment such as this was not there for the driver to shield his eyes with
2) there were/are NO seatbelts on the bus for the driver or for the passengers, I'm outraged for the lack of regard for the safety of the occupants the manufacturer of bus obviously has/had.
3) yes the early morning sun was a factor, but it sounds to me that the truck did cut it close and slammed on the brakes
When I rode the school bus 40 years ago there were no seat belts. Seems like that would have changed by now. I'm just glad the kids were sitting down for the most part. The kids acted with courage and order during the incident it seems to me. Both children I have talked to, who were banged up but not really hurt, could recall many, many details of what happened and who got hurt and what the injuries were. Both were very scared, of course, by the shock of hitting the truck and the pole (the bus hit two objects, not just one) plus all the blood Mr. Cockerham lost. Jordan told me as soon as the bus came to a halt all she could see was Mr. Cockerham hanging out the windshield blood gushing from his head and all the kids crying and scared to death. Jesse Loomis had the same story.
The EMT's obviously did a great job, as well as VPD and all the folks that rushed to the scene. I heard the Vidalia firemen, little Jordan Byars calls him pawpaw, gave Mr. Cockerham first aid I was informed and she was proud of him for his service.
I'm so glad none of our precious kids were lost.
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The point I was trying to make is there is two sides to this story. We do not need to blame anyone. The students I spoke with, some were on the third row. I was also told that Mr. Cockerham admitted that he did not see the trash truck for the sun. Regardless, we should be thankful that they are all alive and doing well. I think some of you are trying to blame whoever just to get money out of someone.
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For some that may be true mskitty, but not my family. I want to make sure that this kind of accident doesn't happen again. I don't know if drivers of garbage trucks are required to have CDLs, but I know bus drivers do. I have witnessed some garbage trucks doing some very unsafe things in going about their jobs. I don't care about money and my grandchild is fine physically, but she has been scarred mentally and now we have to help her get over her fear and get her back on a bus. I just don't want anyone else's child to have to go through this.
One way to help protect the kids and the driver is seat belts.
Posted by countrygurl2010 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Cockerham and his whole family are in our prayers. && even the kids that were on the bus.
I hope he has a speedy recovery.
=)
Posted by bchandler24 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets,just say Kindness,was"nt so kind!!!!!!!!! Thank God they pulled that comment!!!!!!
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they pulled the username too. kindness has left the building!!
Posted by sophie (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow.. what it in the world was said? How could someone be so cruel?
Posted by mom3 (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
people should pull together and think about some of the things being said and how they affect everyone involved. My child was on that bus and recieved minor injuries, we are close friends of the little girl hurt, they will all get over the bruises and broken bones but they are having trouble getting thru the emotional and mental things that go with it. We need to be there now for them and Mr Cockerham and his family now more than ever.
Posted by kilabe (anonymous) on October 10, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thoughts and prayers are w/ Mr. James and his family, and to all the brave students on the bus as well. My God bless you all.
Posted by onesideortheother (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TO 'MSKITTY': your quote "I was also told that Mr. Cockerham admitted..." is IGNORANT!
how in the hell could mr. cockerham have admitted to anything when from the second the wreck happened until now HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SPEAK???????????????
S-T-O-P, J-US-T S-T-O-P!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no one here is QUALIFIED OR EXPERIENCED TO INVESTIGATE A WRECK.
my GOD!
if you want to, only discuss the sadness of the wreck. DON'T try to analyze it. that would be IGNORANT!!
people, please show some CLASS, DIGNITY, EMPATHY & COMPASSION FOR ALL INVOLVED.
the world is already cruel enough in many issues. PLEASE DON'T ADD TO IT.
just simply strive everyday to be a better person.
i am so afraid of so many people & what they contribute.
Posted by linenbreeze (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope this is a nasty rumor but I just heard (not throught the ND) that Mr. Cockerham had died during the night. Anyone heard that. I'm hopng it's just another rumor!
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. James is doing just fine and will be fine.
He will be in the ICU for about 2 weeks.
His vital signs are good and he is stable.
He will have to learn how to walk again after his legs heal.
So please quit with the rumors.
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on October 11, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To onesideortheother: You need to back up, and stop calling people ignorant. Why do you assume that I don't know what happened? I have people very close to me that were at the seen, he did say that the sun was in his eyes. I have read your post to other people and you are nothing more than a bully. Quit fussing at people. As far as class, dignity, empathy and compassion I have all of those qualities, but, don't make this man a saint. Those garbage men were also injured and no one has asked about them or the trauma they were put through because a bus was driving too fast and did not stop at the red light. If you go to the scene of the accident there is one set of skid marks from the bus, not the garbage truck. So, get off your high horse and back up. If someones opinion is different than yours so be it. That is why we live in this great country, so that, we can state facts not fiction. You have no idea what I do on a daily basis to show compassion to others. Don't threaten me over the net. You need to get over yourself.
Posted by onesideortheother (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i will not dignify MSKITTY.
Posted by keeper (anonymous) on October 12, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mskitty
I am by no means an expert of traffic accidents but in the event the truck had come to a stop a couple of feet in front of a bus there would have been no skid marks. As for noone caring about the drivers of the other vehicle-I have seen several post praying for all involved. I think this would mean bus-truck-emergency personel and anyone else that was at the scene. MR. Cockerham is not being portrayed as a saint. He happened to receive the worst injuries and like it or not he is a well liked and respected person in our community. Could we please save the "fault" untill the people that are paid to reconstrut traffic accidents have been allowed to do their job. I am sure they will share this information if they see fit to do so.
Posted by 1tigerfan (anonymous) on October 13, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A Blood Drive for Mr. Cockerham is set up for Saturday, October 18th from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. The MS Blood Services bus will be located on the corner of Broadway and Orleans St. Please make a point to come out and donate blood. THANKS!
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