JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – What occurred to 73-year-old Karen Brown on Friday evening is one thing her niece Cheryl Preusler says she’s nonetheless attempting to return to phrases with.
Preusler described her aunt as a lady of exceptional power.
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“It simply goes to indicate how extremely sturdy of an individual she is, and he or she did every little thing she might to offer that battle to him,” Preusler stated. “It’s superb when you think about the harm she has, what all she was in a position to do.”
The suspect, 20-year-old Jeremiah Thompson, is now in custody and faces a number of expenses in reference to the assault.
In keeping with an arrest report, Brown was residence Friday evening when she heard scratching at her again patio door. She noticed Thompson exterior holding a package deal that he claimed had been mistakenly delivered to his home. Brown opened the door, and what occurred subsequent stays unclear as particulars of her account had been redacted from the report. Nonetheless, Preusler shared that Brown fought exhausting, regardless of having no formal self-defense coaching.
“She’s positively processing every little thing that occurred,” Preusler stated. “There’s a variety of ‘what if’ moments proper now of considering, ‘why did I open the door?’ And with that, we’re simply attempting to remind her that her courageous actions and everyone round coming to her assist, that’s the explanation she’s nonetheless with us.”
Preusler stated her aunt’s choice to battle again got here from a spot of survival.
“I believe she realized that if she didn’t, her end result was not going to be constructive, and that was the willpower that she wanted to get by means of that state of affairs,” she defined.
Brown is out of the intensive care unit and has been transferred to a rehabilitation room. Whereas her restoration journey is simply beginning, her household stays hopeful and grateful for the help they’ve obtained from the neighborhood.
Within the wake of what occurred, Preusler launched a GoFundMe marketing campaign to assist cowl her aunt’s restoration prices. She admitted she arrange the fundraiser with out Brown’s permission, realizing her aunt can be too humble to ask for assist.
“She needs everyone to know that she would by no means ask for assist,” Preusler stated. “However she is simply so overwhelmed with gratitude, and the truth that the neighborhood has her again proper now simply means the world to her in addition to her daughter, Jennifer.”
As of Tuesday night, the GoFundMe marketing campaign had raised over $4,700 of its $7,000 purpose. The household stays hopeful that the neighborhood will proceed to rally behind Brown as she continues her restoration.
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