07/30/2026
Yesterday was my birthday, and today is the one-year anniversary of my car accident that I still can't believe I walked away from. I have been spending a lot of time the last few days reflecting on what has happened during my 42nd year on Earth.
This past year has been one of the most challenging years of my life. I am not one to dwell on trauma or negative events because I have experienced so many more joyful moments. Like many people, I have faced life-changing events that many don't know about. I have helped keep a child calm after they were run over. I have experienced the heartbreak of the premature birth of a deeply wanted child. I have grieved with friends who have had to bury their children. I have supported a parent through a divorce. I have watched my husband deal with the lasting effects of a stroke for the past five years. The list could go on. The one thing all of these experiences have taught me is to have compassion for everyone.
This past year's challenges began on July 30, when I was rear-ended by a dump truck on my way to work. I am still dealing with the ramifications of that accident to this day. There is still physical and emotional pain, along with the never-ending headache of dealing with the insurance companies.
Then winter came, and my tender heart broke for my community. In April, my Aunt Holly passed away after dealing with health problems for more than 20 years. Then came July. We lost William's uncle to cancer, and just days later, my Grandma Betty passed away. Although we knew some of these deaths were coming, and we knew they were looking forward to the day their pain would end, it doesn't make it any easier for those of us left behind.
Around 1:00 a.m. on July 10, we were awakened by a scream I will never forget. A woman was banging on our door, screaming that she had been stabbed by her boyfriend and needed help. I remember yelling back that we were on our way.
Unknown to us, our front door was unlocked, and she was able to take immediate shelter inside our home. William was quickly out of bed while I called 911. When I came out of our bedroom, I was not prepared for what I saw. There was a young woman, naked and curled up in a small ball, with a large bladed weapon piercing her back.
William used his training from work to keep her as calm as possible until the police and ambulance crew arrived. She kept asking if she was going to die and begging us to call her parents. Within 20 minutes, she was on her way to the hospital.
Once the scene had been photographed and processed, we were left with a quiet, blood-covered house. We were given only a couple of cleaning pads to clean up the blood ourselves. Now our home must be professionally cleaned by a biohazard company. It sounds like they will have to remove much of the wooden trim work, replace sections of the hardwood flooring where the blood pooled, and determine what else needs to be cleaned or replaced.
Thankfully, our homeowners insurance will cover most of the cost, but we are still responsible for our deductible.
What I'm asking from our community is to share any resources you know of that help victims in situations like this cover their insurance deductible. We have already received some support, and we have also set up a GoFundMe to help cover the remaining amount. If you feel so inclined to donate, it would be greatly appreciated.
Sarah and William
This is from my wife July is coming to an end, and my birthday is just days away. … william lueck needs your support for Help After a Shocking home invasion.
