Hello, I am raising funds to help my current living situation until my house sells and I can downsize. I am an amputee on disability and used all of my savings on a horrible divorce and living expenses, plus medical devices and debt. Any help received now will be given back later into the community and help for other amputees. I have a big heart and love sharing my time and resources. I just need to get past this huge hurdle of the next few months until the house sells and get settled into my new life. I am a strong and independent woman and I’m giddy to be alive after my accident, 4 years ago.

Lorrie Owens’ life changed forever in 2021, when she was hit head-on by an indigent drunk driver and lost her left leg below the knee. She suffered other multiple injuries, three surgeries (two different legs, later an amputation) and her recovery, which involved being laid up in a hospital bed for four months, then wheelchair bound for several months after and two years of physical therapy plus massage therapy just to walk again. Prior to this, she had spent the previous 11 years volunteering in various capacities including 4-H Leadership, Moose membership, and local library education. A talented artist, Lorrie has served as Secretary, now President of the Yachats Arts Guild for the last 6 years. Luckily, Lorrie’s superpower is an indomitable spirit, and she faced her myriad of challenges with courage and fortitude. Several years before the accident, she had to quit her job as a dental hygienist because she was debilitated with Multiple Sclerosis.

Two years after the accident, things got worse for Lorrie when she fell and broke the femur on her amputated leg, and was once again, wheelchair bound for eight months. Her daughter moved back home with her boyfriend, supposedly to help her mother. As aid diminished, the two became a financial burden, and her daughter’s mental illness manifested itself in creating chaos in the home.

Rather than help Lorrie, her husband became more verbally abusive and announced he was leaving to move in with his new girlfriend. After the initial shock, Lorrie began divorce proceedings. Things became complicated when his lawyer wanted to sell the house that had been paid for with most of the settlement monies awarded from the accident, in order to offset the $200,000-plus debt that he had incurred over the previous year.

Lorrie, fearing that she would lose her house, agreed to his demands, and he left her with no alimony, $30,000 of debt, and the house. Her daughter’s mental illness came to a peak at the same time, and Lorrie asked her to leave. She and her boyfriend trashed the house as they left.

Lorrie decided to put the house up for sale, but just as she did, the market came to a standstill. Although she doesn’t have a mortgage, she has to save for taxes, as well as pay down her credit card debt. She traded in her car to reduce her monthly payments, but still has to buy food, prescriptions, insurance, and save for a new leg, which she will probably need in the spring.

We are trying to raise $10,000 to get Lorrie through the winter and pay for her new leg in the spring. Lorrie’s only income is SSI and the occasional pet-sitting gig. Any contributions would help Lorrie remain in the community that she calls home with wonderful, supportive friends and get her through this difficult time in her life. Please share Lorrie’s story with everyone you know and let her put her best foot forward!