Saturday, December 15, 2012

One Week Later... Some Healing

It was last weekend that many of us were horrified to read about the random attack on an Uptown resident, allegedly by someone who just happened to be riding by on a bike and saw her arriving home for the evening.  We were grateful to hear that her neighbors came to her defense in the moments before the police arrived, almost certainly saving her from worse injuries.

We have heard from the parents of the young woman, and we are passing along their note with their permission.  Please keep them, and the victim, in your thoughts and, if you are so inclined, your prayers.  (We are identifying the woman as Bryna, meaning "strong one," although that's not her name.)


"Dear UU,

I'm Bryna's father, and on behalf of her mom and the rest of our family, I'd like to express our deepest gratitude (although mere words are woefully inadequate) to all who have supported her this past week:  the police and paramedics, the staff at Illinois Masonic, the State's Attorney's personnel, and above all, the ultimate first responders, Tom Schabow and the other members of the community who selflessly aided a neighbor in need.

Truly, we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers.  We cannot carry on and grow as a community if we are not connected to and care for those around us.  Thank you all.

Surrounded by family, friends (and lots of flowers), Bryna is recovering, both physically and emotionally, about as well as one could hope for. 

Tom stopped by the hospital (photo attached) to check on Bryna.  I can't tell you how heartening it was to have Tom, the beat officers, and the ER personnel come by to follow-up on Bryna's well-being.  Her path back is paved with the kindness shown by those who are no longer strangers.

Again, our thanks and appreciation to all involved and well-wishers everywhere."

2 comments:

  1. God bless you dear---so glad your okay.The terible memory will get better -it will take a long time but it will.

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  2. Great to see this. We need more neighbors like Tom.

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