Piedmont Teen Risks Playing Career To Help Motorist

News9.com

PIEDMONT, Oklahoma – The massive tornado that hit Piedmont on May 24 claimed nine lives, but even though Jake Decker and his family were spared, that didn't stop Jake from helping others.

Right after the tornado hit, Jake stopped to help a motorist untangle a wire from the axle on her car, when part of the wire suddenly sprung up and punctured his left eye.

Jake, a baseball player for the Oklahoma City Broncos, a home school team, signed earlier this year to play college baseball at Eastern Oklahoma State in Wilburton.

The injury to his eye could have easily derailed his dreams of playing Major League baseball, but after two surgeries and a few more to follow, doctors expect him to regain his vision completely.

Last week, while in the hospital, Decker wad drafted by the New York Mets in the 43rd round of the 2011 MLB draft.

Although honored for being drafted, Jake says he is going to play college ball for now and that he has no regrets about stopping to help his fellow Oklahoman.

"It's not like I would change anything," said Decker. "I mean, I wouldn't go another way just so I wouldn't see her or whatever, I mean, that's just life."

Decker's family is not surprised that he stopped to help the motorist. They all agree he frequently goes out of his way to help others.

Doctors say that if Jake's injury would have happened just 10 years earlier, he would have been permanently blinded.