A teen softball star who was ambushed and allegedly stabbed 15 times by her stalker ex-boyfriend has revealed she is now paralysed.
Madison Schemitz, 17, from Florida, US, was targeted by Spencer Pearson, 18, outside of a Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant on June 3 and allegedly stabbed over a dozen times.
The Ponte Verde High School student has been left paralysed from the chest down after the sickening attack which also saw the 18-year-old suspect try to cut his own throat, according to police.
Madison, who spoke at Brooks Rehabilitation, was surrounded by her mum Jaclyn ‘Jacki’ Rogé, friends, medical staff and Kennedy Armstrong, who was a heroic bystander.
She told reporters: ‘Regarding my recovery, I am currently paralysed from the chest down. It will be a long and hard road, but I am determined and confident in myself that I will reach my goals to one day walk again … My story is just getting started.’
Madison thanked everyone who came to her help and expressed her appreciation to the emergency services, doctors, nurses, therapists and nutritionists.
‘The individualised care and attentiveness has not gone unnoticed,’she said, according to First Coast News.
‘Without you guys, I don’t know where I would be today. So, thank you all for pushing me every day to reach my goals while also being a light in the darkness.
‘More specifically, I thank my mum,’ Madison added. ‘My mom was one of my heroes that day. My love for her is endless and I am so lucky to be her daughter.
‘And finally, Kennedy Armstrong, the man who saved my life that day. I am forever endlessly grateful for the brave acts he showed. Kennedy is and forever will be my hero and is now family for life.’
Hero Kennedy Armstrong, 23, was also stabbed when he intervened to help Madison, suffering a severed artery in his arm.
This was moments before the suspect cut his throat several times, telling witnesses he was attempting to kill himself, according to police.
Pearson had charged Madison and her mum who had been dining with a friend at he restaurant, Mr. Chubby’s Wings.
He grabbed Madison by the arm and allegedly stabbed her 15 times. Schemitz’s mother, Jacki Rogé, was stabbed in the leg and forehead.
Pearson had allegedly been harassing and stalking Madison since they broke up in April. He was a high school football star who had recently graduated and had been struggling with his mental health.
Jacki had iled a criminal report about Pearson, 18, less than a week before he charged at the pair at the restaurant.
She alleged Pearson had been following Madison to school, leaving notes on her car, and using fake social media accounts to message her.
‘I believe there is no looking back now. Everything happens for a reason. I am incredibly lucky to be alive today. I will take each day as its own opportunity to live and make a difference in the world,’ Madison said as she spoke at at Brooks Rehabilitation.
