My miracle Dad

I had to share, life has been tough since Ben was stabbed and I am in the process of writing an impact statement for court as she will be sentenced next Monday. Ayesha wrote on that she wanted the judge to read and it sums things up better than I ever could.


My name is Ayesha I am 14 years old and this is my statement.
As I heard my mum from her room crying and stumbling around trying to find the car keys I walked into her room I was shocked when she told me “Ben has been stabbed but go back to sleep it will all be okay ill come get you soon”. I had no idea what she was talking about as I was still half asleep and at that time she was not quiet straight with what she was saying either as she was in such distress, I went back to my bed with a million thoughts running through my head trying to figure out just what she meant by the last thing she had told me before she ran quickly to the car and drove away. At 4am being woken up by a person you had only met once was quiet confusing but I knew he was going to take us to the hospital and he said to us that Ben was in hospital and mum was already there, when we got to the hospital the room was filled with all the security boys. It was something I will never forget walking into a room of gigantic guys all crying as they waited to see if there treasured mate would make it. As we walked up to the waiting room mum was in, she was pacing back and forth outside the huge green coloured doors where I knew Ben was, as mum locked her crying eyes on ours she ran to us hugging us tightly saying she wasn’t sure yet but we are all praying for him to pull through. It felt like forever waiting for our dad to come back to us, then finally the massive green doors swung open and there he was, a man that so many people were counting on to make it, a father figure to me and someone that had helped so many people in the toughest of times but now no one there could do a thing for him but pray and wait. He was wheeled out on a big white bed, so still and looking all of a sudden very fragile, everyone waiting was so very grateful for the miracle that the surgeon had just completed, bringing back someone that had always been there for me and my family. The times we visited him in the hospital were usually very short as he would drift in and out of sleep, but every moment I spent with him from then on was valued. Seeing him with all those tubes down his throat, needles in his hands and a 20cm cut down his stomach will be stuck in mind forever, and it will be looked upon and remembered as the day my dad almost died. When he came back home with us although we knew he was safe and going to be okay, still not all of him was there and still isn’t today. When we go somewhere as a family we always have to think if Ben will be comfortable doing that. Going to the beach together cannot be enjoyed as it used to be as he is very self conscious of his scar and does not like people looking at it or asking about it. Going to the shopping center changed as well as if it is too crowded we have to leave as Ben gets fidgety and uncomfortable. Although I am forever thankful of his return to us I just wish he was the same Ben we used to wake up to every morning before the 18th May 2008.

Ayesha Madden