'Slender Man' Stabbing Survivor Says 'Thank You' in Newly Released Photographs
Two 12-year-old girls were charged in the attack.
June 24, 2014 -- The Wisconsin family of the 12-year-old survivor who was left for dead in the woods by friends who allegedly attacked her is thanking supporters who have written “thousands” of letters and pledged financial support toward her extensive medical treatment.
“Our family would like to thank everyone who has supported our daughter on her miraculous road to recovery,” they write in the statement. “Our little girl has received thousands of purple hearts from numerous countries and from most continents. We simply cannot put into words how grateful we are for the prayers, packages and heartfelt messages. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.”
The family statement included two images, one of the survivor’s hands holding a homemade sign colored by the victim herself with two words: thank you. She is pictured at home surrounded by messages written to her on purple hearts from supporters. The other photo shows a collage of “a fraction” of the notes she is said to have received.
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“This is a courageous brave little girl who was stabbed 19 times,” family spokesman Stephen Lyons told ABC News. “[Her] courage and fortitude has just been unbelievable. She has a positive disposition.”
The young girl – whose identity ABC News is not revealing because of her age – survived a brutal attack May 31 that prosecutors say was carried out by 12-year-olds Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, in hopes of paying homage to a fictitious character the duo was obsessed with and hoped to meet, “Slender Man.”
After the stabbing, authorities say, the survivor crawled to a road near Waukesha, Wisconsin. A passerby on a bicycle discovered her fighting for her life and called for help.
“This past week she had four medical appointments with specialists,” Lyons said. “She is home but the healing process is going to take a very long time.”
Weier and Geyser are due back in court July 2. Attorneys for Geyser asked that she receive a mental health evaluation before the next hearing. Both girls are being charged as adults with attempted first-degree intentional homicide. They have not yet entered a plea.
In the statement, the family thanked donors who helped raise over $50,000 on their Hearts for Healing campaign page “to help with mounting medical expenses.”
“The escalating health care costs are daunting,” Lyons said. “Unfortunately, the costs of this are going to grow and grow. These medical needs, both physical and emotional, are going to be there for a very long time. I think her photo says it best … for all the love and thoughts, it’s a simple thank you.”
Here is the family's full statement:
“Our family would like to thank everyone who has supported our daughter on her miraculous road to recovery. Our little girl has received thousands of purple hearts from numerous countries and from most continents. We simply cannot put into words how grateful we are for the prayers, packages and heartfelt messages. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.
Together as a family, we continue to adjust to our ‘new normal.’ She has a courageous heart and bravely deals with both the physical and emotional challenges since the attack.
Though many days consist of medical appointments and rehabilitation, recently she and her father enjoyed a ‘daddy - daughter night at the movies’ and thoroughly enjoyed a Disney film. It also included, (after much persistence) a stop for a much-deserved treat at the snack area.”
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