Family of Boy Mauled by Dog Faces Foreclosure

LINDEN, N.C. — Lawrence Martin, 8, hasn't a care in the world when he's with his trucks. He especially loves 18-wheelers, like the one that his daddy drives. He likes to line up a convoy across his mother’s sofa.

When he’s playing with his trucks, Lawrence forgets about the pink scar below his nose and about the money problems associated with it.

"He worries,” said Lawrence’s mother, Jamie Martin. “He asked us this morning, 'Mom, are we going to lose the house? Mom, am I going to have a birthday party?'”

With his trucks, Lawrence forgets about that horrible day when he was mauled by a dog at his babysitter's house. His babysitter said the dog was a stray that bounded into the house while she was outside.

Lawrence got 200 stitches, and he's still dealing with post-traumatic stress and anxiety. The Martins settled a $40,000 suit against the homeowners, but the money is going to him when he turns 18.

Terry and Jamie Martin said they still have $12,000 in medical bills to pay. Jamie gave up her job last year to stay home with Lawrence. Terry works full-time as a trucker, but has no health insurance. They are selling their possessions to gather money.

"Slowly losing everything I've had, one by one, piece by piece,” Terry Martin said.

Medical expenses have overwhelmed the family, and they face foreclosure on their house on March 13.

"It's like, do you pay the mortgage or do you pay the light bill?” Jamie Martin said.

Terry Martin says he was denied $2,500 from the settlement to pay his mortgage bills.

"I just feel like if I can even get back on my feet, I can get us back to where we used to be,” he said.

Donations can be sent to the Martin family at 141 Greencrest Drive, Linden, NC 28356.