Jalen Isaac works at The Port of Houston, the 5th ranked container port in the United States and the largest on the Texas Gulf Coast, handling 74% of the region's container traffic.
As a longshoreman, Isaac is responsible for loading, unloading and securing cargo on ships at the port.
In May 2025, Isaac was unloading a tanker container when he realized it was getting precariously close to him and a coworker.
“I was between a pinch point and a wall, and knew I had to move,” he says. “My coworker jumped down to escape. The container nearly got my whole body, but thankfully I was able to move, but it caught my right arm and crushed it.”
At the time, Isaac thought he was fine until he saw blood, started feeling faint and losing consciousness. Coworkers rushed in to help and placed him in a basket that lifted him off the ship by crane. He was then rushed to Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.
“On the ambulance ride I thanked God that I was alive and was able to get out of the situation,” he says.
Doctors at LBJ Hospital treated a fractured elbow and additional breaks. He had surgery the next day and was in a cast and sling for a month.
Isaac went through three months of physical therapy, along with independent workouts to regain his strength.
“I’m thankful my arm wasn’t amputated. It could have been a way worse situation,” he says.
“Initially I couldn’t even lift 20 pounds, but now I’m back and bench pressing 200 pounds. I’m thankful to the staff and doctors—they were amazing and everyone was so welcoming.”