AUBURN, Maine — Lewiston shooting survivors have spent the past six months adapting to new realities. Ben Dyer, 47, of Auburn is living a very different life than before the Oct. 25 tragedy, but it's still a life he is grateful for.
“I was hit five times," Dyer said. "I lost a large amount of blood. Why I’m here? I don’t know. Whether it’s a higher power, whether it's just the will to live, I survived. And that’s the way I have to look at it. I am fortunate enough that I survived."
Dyer was playing cornhole at Schemengees Bar and Grille when a lone gunman opened fire. Dyer was shot five times and at one point was face-to-face with the gunman.
Dyer lost his bicep and tricep on his right arm and index finger on his right hand.
"A sick person did a sick thing that night," he said. "You can't quit because of them. You can't let them stop you from being who you are your goals in life and your future."
For the past six months, Dyer has been working to gain mobility in his hand and arm. He is right-handed but is learning how to use his left hand better.
“I’d give anything to get my right arm back," he said. "It's the little things. People don’t know the struggle when you stand in a mirror, and you can’t button a shirt and you cry."
Dyer is still out of work. He said it was his goal was to have returned by now. He said he's still limited in what he can do and isn't sure how long it will take, though.
"It’s just being able let people know that this isn’t done. This story is not completely written. It started, but it's not completely written. There’s still people out there that are struggling day in and day out because of this," Dyer said.
Dyer has part of a bullet in his leg and shrapnel in his arm, legs, back, and neck. He keeps some of the shrapnel and glass doctors have already removed from his body in a jar.
“You have to be positive about things. Well, guess what: I'm going to keep something from this," Dyer joked.
He said he is focused on moving forward and honoring the people who lost their lives that night. He said even though there are things he may never be able to do again, like fly fish or hunt, he's grateful he still gets the chance to try.
“I have a lot of life left to live, so that’s what I’m gonna do, and I’m gonna live it to its fullest," Dyer said.