The family of the young girl who was stabbed in a Parnell Square attack last year have recalled the day their ‘lives were turned upside down’. The child, who was five-years-old, was left in critical condition following the attack which took place in broad daylight on Parnell Square in Dublin on November 23. The family of the child have been sharing updates on a GoFundMe page, which was set up in the wake of the horrific incident.
Nine months on from the incident, the girl’s family have shared details of what happened on what ‘started as a normal day’. ‘Nine months and five days ago our lives were turned upside down. It started as a normal day (rushing out the door, catching the train, dropping off the child at crèche, running to work).
‘At 1.45pm, I got the worst phone call I could ever get: “Something happened! Your daughter was stabbed in front of the school”. ‘I ran over and saw a horrific site.
I saw my little girl lying on the ground. Doctors and paramedics trying to get her heart beating and air in her lungs. She was brought back to life by the amazing team at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
’ The update continued: ‘Some people wonder why it has taken her so long to recover and if she will be the same little girl as before. The human brain is a very complex organ. Deprive it of oxygen for too long and the body suffers.
‘The longer it takes to get it working again, the longer it is to regain function. Our little warrior has a few things going for her: she is young, she was a healthy girl before this all happened, she has a great team working with her, a loving family, loving friends, and prayers from all over. ‘She has improved so much already during this period.
We have learned the beauty of patience and perseverance.’ Noting that ‘one hour at a time turned into one day at a time’, the girl’s family said they now take things ‘one week at a time’. ‘Soon it will be one month at a time.
There is no rush. We will take the blessings as they come,’ the post concluded. Riad Bouchaker, 50, is currently before the courts and is charged with three counts of attempted murder, one of producing and possession of a kitchen knife, three accounts of assault causing harm and one of assault causing serious harm.
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