A young man whose body was severed in a horrific workplace accident has shared an update on his life six years later, revealing his deepest sense of loss and his radically changed ambitions for the future.
A Life-Altering Fall and a Rare Surgery
In September 2019, Loren Schauers was just 18 years old and working on a bridge construction job in Montana when his life changed forever. While driving a forklift, he veered off the structure and plunged 50 feet. The vehicle landed on top of him, crushing his lower body. Miraculously, he remained conscious throughout the entire ordeal.
To save his life, surgeons were forced to perform an extremely rare procedure known as a hemicorperectomy. This involved the amputation and removal of all of his body below the waist. It is an operation so complex that fewer than 100 people worldwide are known to have undergone it.
What He Misses Most and Lost Dreams
Now aged 24, Loren has reflected on the aspects of his old life he longs for the most. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he identified a simple pleasure that is now out of reach. "The biggest thing I miss is being able to just hop in my truck that has a clutch and drive," he said. "Vehicles and driving around were and are one of my biggest loves outta life, so losing that has to be one of the biggest things I miss."
His accident also forced him to abandon his original career path. He and his wife, Sabia Reiche – his childhood sweetheart who stood by him through his traumatic recovery – had dreamed of a mobile life. "We were going to buy ourselves either a camper or bus, turn it into a tiny home, and just travel the state of Montana to whatever job site I'd be stationed to work at," Loren explained. His planned work in the construction industry became impossible after losing three limbs.
Building a New Future Through Social Media and Advocacy
The couple initially found financial stability by sharing their journey on YouTube, documenting the daily realities of Loren's new life. However, Loren admits their channel's popularity has waned. "Giving updates on how life was this month for the dude who got cut in half by a forklift is getting old/stale," he noted.
This has led him to formulate two new career goals that leverage his experience and interests:
- Gaming and Streaming: "Playing video games and getting paid to do that seems like the only real viable option, given my social media presence and whatnot," he said, planning to stream on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
- Disability Accessibility Reviews: He aims to produce content reviewing businesses across Montana for their handicap accessibility, assessing what works and what needs improvement.
His immediate focus, however, is on gaining greater independence. "Our current goal is just to get me set up with proper prosthetics, equipment, and technology that provides the help for day to day independence I need and am looking for," Loren stated.
His story remains a profound testament to human resilience, showcasing how a person can rebuild their world from the foundations up after unimaginable trauma.
