Lena Oatis lives right here in Danville, IL and has an incredible story of strength and compassion that will inspire even the most hesitant reader. Lena was born in Thailand, but moved to the United States before she could walk with her teenaged mother. They lived in a few different places, but eventually settled in this area because her grandfather lived in Westville. At age 10, she found herself in the foster care system, placed in 5 different homes during her adolescence. When she was 15, Lena was pregnant and as a result, she could not stay at her final foster home. From there she found some support from her boyfriend’s family, eventually emancipated, and married her boyfriend whom she met as a preteen. He was just two years older than her, and as two teen parents they did the best they could and provided a loving home for their child.
A couple of years later, Lena’s second child came along, and at 18, she was mother to two beautiful children. She devoted herself wholeheartedly to the task, and she was committed to breaking the cycle in her family’s history. Unexpectedly, at 22 Lena became a widow and single mother, and she had to navigate the world without her best friend. She remembers her husband fondly, and says, “He was the only constant in my life from the time I was a child.” His family, specifically his sister, was always by Lena’s side, helping her walk through life and raise her children even after his death. Lena says, “I’ve lived a crazy life – how did I make it through? People helped me. I am blessed, healthy, fed, clothed, and I have a beautiful family.”
Lena’s babies are now 21 and 19, and she has a third child who is 5. She has a beautiful life and family. She works at Quality Inn as a front desk clerk, and she noticed that there was a mask shortage at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She heard about how the EMT staff could not get masks for their patients and how factories could not mask their employees, and she saw it as an opportunity to help. In her free time, Lena began sewing custom masks in a variety of sizes, making them as quickly as she could. Her son, Daley Oatis, noticed how exhausted his mom was and so he decided to give sewing a try. Lena remembers a time when she could not stay awake to complete the masks she had hoped to, and so she went to bed. When she woke up in the morning, Daley had finished every mask that she could not get to.
Daley says he helped with the masks mostly because he loves his mom and he did not want her to have to do it all alone. He also enjoyed helping people, but mostly he could see that his mom needed help. Together they completed over 500 masks. Quality Inn supported her efforts and let her bring her sewing machine to work when it was slow due to restrictions on traveling; Lena would sew masks at work and share them with her co-workers and friends. Lena loves her regulars at Quality Inn and she often comes into work early to help “Mr. Fred” get to his doctor appointments at the VA.
Lena gives to all who know her. Her life is an example of hard work and sacrifice for her friends, family, and neighbors. Daley says, “My mom is beautiful. I admire that she did not have much, but she has earned so much, and she gives so much. I look up to her in every way.” He also says, “Her food is so good it is dangerous.”
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