Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Worrel.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jordan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Career: Strength and Conditioning Coach
I am in the Strength & Conditioning field and I have been coaching for nine years. I am blessed and privileged to work at the universities and under the coaches that I have during my time.
Kansas State University: Chris Dawson
The University of Texas at Austin: Donnie Maib
Tarleton State University: Rod Cole
University of Texas at Dallas
Manhattan Christian College
Washburn University
Has it been a smooth road?
January 20, 2013, I was walking home, and I was struck by an intoxicated driver. The driver left the scene of the accident without calling for medical help. Fortunately, someone had seen the accident, and medical help arrived.
It is unknown how long I had not been breathing, and I was quickly intubated. I had lost a large amount of blood, requiring two blood transfusions, I sustained a parietal skull fracture, traumatic brain injury, degloved face, torn ACL, multiple facial, nasal and orbit fractures, rib fractures. I was transported by helicopter to the nearest hospital that was equipped for Trauma patients. While the Surgeon was cleaning and closing the open skull fracture, I had a cardiac arrest. I was in a deep coma, and my future, if I survived, was bleak.
There I was, lying hooked up to a breathing machine with feeding tubes down my throat. For the next seven days, as I was still unconscious and unaware, I was surrounded by hundreds of people that loved me. The surgeons, speaking from there knowledge and years of schooling, told everyone that the odds were slim, and they needed to prepare for me not to make it.
But, that’s what they said, that’s not what my God said.
The road to recovery has required much perseverance. I went to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, to relearn how to walk, talk, read, write, and math skills.
It is impossible to explain the emotions I felt after losing everything. There was a void inside my head where there had been 22+ years of knowledge and life memories, but I knew my God would restore everything that once was lost.
Life events have led my road to Texas. Before coming to Houston, I have been blessed to be at some best Universities as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. UT Austin, KSU, and Tarleton State University. Each position has been an invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the best Mentors in the field of Strength and Conditioning. While at Kansas State University, I was blessed to work under the Staff of Coach Bill Snyder. The relationships developed with the other Coaches are lifelong friendships.
Houston has opened up an entire separate opportunity from coaching. I am a member of Hope City Church, Pastored by Jeremy Foster. Being a part of such a caring group has allowed me the opportunity to serve the Houston Community “hands on” in aspects of disaster relief clean up, feeding the homeless, and prison ministry, all on top of the way I serve in daily living.
I believe it is especially important to give encouragement to other’s who need encouragement to begin again. One thing that I’ve learned during this time is that the things that I once thought were important are not that important, and the small things that I neglected, people, relationships, and my family, are what truly matters. I am able to have a smile on my face today no matter what I face, therefore, my goal is to share that smile and share that hope for a better day tomorrow with everyone that finds themselves in that dark and gloomy place.
What else should our readers know?
I am 1 of approximately 200 people in the world that are CSCCa Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified and an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jordanworrel.weebly.com
- Phone: 785-456-3833
- Email: worrel.jordan@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanworrel_mba_sccc_cscs/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JordanWorrel
Image Credit:
Rachel Renfro ( B&W photos )
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