Quote:

Odom tries to focus after sister's death
24-year-old died from sleep apnea complications

By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, 08/02/05

Titans defensive end Antwan Odom had surgery to repair his sleep apnea condition because he was shaken so much by the death of NFL legend Reggie White.

Odom never thought he'd lose someone in his own family to the same condition.

Odom reported to training camp yesterday after missing the first three days to be with his family. His 24-year-old sister, Mellissa, died last week due to complications from sleep apnea, Odom said.

"Coming back after what he went through personally, it was tough for him,'' Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said. "They're very difficult circumstances for him personally, so he's going to have to deal with that, come to terms with that as best he can and get focused out here. It's tough.''

White's death at the age of 43 was also linked to sleep apnea. Odom's sister died in her sleep in Alabama.

The news had to have been especially hard for Odom, 23, considering he suffered from sleep apnea problems his whole life prior to undergoing surgery in June.

A person suffering from sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep when his or her airway collapses, preventing air from getting into the lungs. While most people awake occasionally during the night, Odom woke up repeatedly for years before he finally went to doctors.

"My surgery helped, and I can get some rest now. I feel better,'' Odom said after yesterday's practice. "If I was out there today in the heat like that and hadn't had the surgery, I probably would have gone home and died or something, I don't know. I can breathe so much better now.''

Odom revealed that his recovery wasn't without complications, however.

On the July 4th weekend he was rushed to the hospital in Jasper, Ala., after he passed out while driving, he said. He was on a dirt road, wasn't driving fast and no one was injured. He regained consciousness after a few moments, called his wife and was taken to the hospital.

Odom was rushed to the hospital another time because his nose was bleeding.

"It has been rough,'' Odom said. "I couldn't breath through my nose for two weeks and I wasn't getting any oxygen to my brain. ... For a while I felt terrible, but I feel a lot better now.''

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Odom said yesterday he's 10 pounds heavier than he was at the start of his rookie season last year. He thinks the extra weight will help him this season, and the Titans are counting on big things from him.

But first he has to put tragedy behind him. At the end of practice yesterday, he sat alone at his locker. His body was worn out from a hard day's work in 90-degree weather, but his thoughts were clearly on his lost sister.

"I have to get myself ready to play,'' he said.

Published: Tuesday, 08/02/05