Media room

December 16, 2005

Glendale Man Receives National Honor for Beating the Odds

Edward Pierce perseveres to regain his career after disabling accident

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Edward Pierce is as strong as the concrete he works with. He had to be to fight his way back from crippling injuries to reclaim his life.

Pierce's life and limbs were shattered while on his way home from a 15-hour day at his job as a batchman at a concrete company. Riding on his new motorcycle in November 2003, he was struck by a drunk driver in a stolen car. The accident left Pierce's right leg nearly severed and his left leg severely crushed.

After the accident, Pierce was in the hospital for eight days and then transferred to a nursing home for 21 days. He endured 12 surgeries and had multiple bolts, wires and plates inserted in both legs. For nearly 18 months, Pierce was confined to his wheelchair and unable to put any weight on his legs. When the bolts were taken out of his legs, Pierce contracted a serious infection and needed intravenous antibiotics to beat the infection.

Pierce was given 12 physical therapy sessions, but when they ran out Pierce and his wife, Holly, had to take matters into their own hands. Holly took over the role of physical therapist and nurse in the home to get her husband well again. Pierce took an active role in his recovery as well by researching therapies on the internet that could help him recover quicker.

The pain was intense and there were days that he just wanted to quit. Even through the discouraging times, there was one thing that kept him motivated – returning to work. He was determined to be a breadwinner again, not a burden.

In recognition of his courage and determination, Pierce, 49, has earned the Perseverance Award from the WillReturn Council® of Assurant Employee Benefits. The Perseverance Award recognizes no more than 12 persons annually for demonstrating proactivity, resilience, will power and conscientiousness in their recovery from a disabling injury or illness. Individuals are honored for their determination to overcome disabilities and get their lives back on track after an accident or disease suddenly challenges their way of living.

Pierce credits his recovery to his family and his determination to resume an active and productive life. Holly Pierce maintained her role as caretaker while keeping a full-time job. When Holly went to work, their daughter Angilyn(cq), then 7 years old, took over. She grew up fast by taking care of her father and now wants to become a surgeon.

Pierce's job also gave him something to look forward to. Nearly four months after the accident, Pierce's job was brought to him. Ed Belt, president of Maricopa Ready Mix, bought a computer, fax machine and internet connection so Pierce could work out of his home. At his new position as Truck Controller, Pierce kept records of the trucks, checked paperwork and entered the information into the computer. Pierce did everything he could to learn the new job and to perform it to the best of his ability.

“Mr. Belt stepped up to the plate and helped me keep my sanity,” Pierce said. “He did not make me disposable.”

Eleven months after the accident, Pierce's condition had improved to the point that he was able to leave his home office and travel to his job. To make his building at work more accessible, his son, Jerimy(cq), built a ramp for him.

Assurant Employee Benefits provided support for Pierce throughout the process. They made his bathroom more accessible, provided a wheelchair lift for his truck, paid for the ramp at work and encouraged him in his therapy and recovery by checking in on him and filing paperwork for additional therapy sessions.

In returning to work, it was not about the money for Pierce. He felt it was just something in life he had to do.

“I wanted to show the insurance company that I could get back,” Pierce said. “Insurance is there to help and I wanted to take the help and use it to get back to work. I am just glad the insurance company took notice of my little world.”

Today, Pierce's proactive attitude and determination have given him his life back. He has progressed from a wheelchair to a walker to walking just like he did before with no intentions of looking back.