CLEVELAND COUNTY, Oklahoma -
A wildfire victim in
Cleveland County is having an especially tough time dealing with the aftermath
of the wildfires. He was in the hospital when the flames swept through his
neighborhood and when he's released, he'll have to start all over.
To say it's been a rough
year on James Ray would be putting it lightly. On the one year anniversary of a
motorcycle accident that paralyzed him from the chest down, his home burned in
the wildfires.
"Pretty much devastated
losing the house and losing everything we had," Ray said.
Ray lies in a hospital bed
recovering from a motorcycle wreck that left him paralyzed, but when he finally
gets out, he will not be able to go home.
"I don't know, I'm trying
to get a house before I get out of here in four to six week," said Ray.
When asked what keeps him
going, Ray said it was his fiancée. He met Dottie in high school. She is trying
to keep it all together now.
"He's been through so much
with the wreck and he's been in the hospital for seven months and having so
many things go wrong," said Dottie.
There's not much left of
the home the couple was leasing. Now they're hoping to buy again soon.
"It had a lot of meaning
to us, and losing that last Saturday, there are no words. We haven't even had
time to cycle through everything," said Dottie.
Dottie is just now telling
Ray about the engagement ring.
"My ring was in the house,
but we got out," said Dottie. "We don't need a ring. We know what we are."
Dottie is grateful for
friends who've stepped up to help, but they're pretty much on their own.
"What else do we have to
do, we gotta get through it and get it done," said Ray.
The fire displaced three
of their horses and several cats. Friends and family have set up a fundraiser
for James in Norman on August 27.
The Community Canvas and Donation Drive will be held
at the Jubilee Tree Painting night at Othello's in 434 Buchanan Ave. in Norman
on August 27. Feel free to come out and show your support with community
painting and donation drive even if you are not painting with the class.
Sign up at tipsyartist.com or call (405) 822-0481. The Community Canvas is free and
requires no purchase. You can also participate in the wine and painting party
that will be held in his honor ($25 online, or $35 at the door). Everyone that
wants to participate will take home a painting they have completed under the "The
Tipsy Artist" Tiffany Bohrer
There will be live music on the piano while you paint.
The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
You can also make an additional contribution
by going to giveforward.com/jamesray. RSVP
is required by online form with credit card purchase, cash/check at door with
online form or phone at 405.822.0481.
"Pretty much devastated losing the house and losing everything we had," James Ray said.
To say it's been a rough year on James Ray would be putting it lightly. On the one year anniversary of a motorcycle accident that paralyzed him from the chest down, his home burned in the wildfires.
