A vicious knife attack almost took the life of a Pitt Meadows man on Nov. 11.
His mother said the 19-year-old is in stable condition after being jumped and wounded by 13 stabs and cuts.
Now, doctors are working to ensure the young man will be able to make a full recovery.
A stab in his underarm punctured his lung, which has been filling with fluid. Another arm wound required surgery, and he will also need plastic surgery on his face.
That wound need approximately 100 stitches to close, and the force of it broke one of his teeth.
“The first thing he said when I saw him was ‘I’m just happy to be alive mom,’ ” she said.
She did not want to talk about what may have motivated the attack, and said details about how many people may have jumped on the man are unclear.
They left him laying on the side of the road, at the 11900-block of Bonson Road. He was discovered by a member of the public at about 11:45 p.m., and rushed to Royal Columbian Hospital by ambulance
Police said he had an altercation with a group of people a short time before he was assaulted.
The mom said the Katzie First Nations band members have a lot of family in the area.
“We’ve had non-stop support,” she said.
“He is very well liked. He’s got friends up and down the Valley.”
She has been documenting his slow recovery for friends and family on Facebook.
“It’s a … good morning. … walked all the way to Tim’s! Exhausted now,” she said
There was talk in social media that the attack was racially motivated, but both the mom and Katzie Chief Susan Miller said that does not appear to be the case. Miller said the band members are hoping for a quick arrest.
“We (the Katzie band) are horrified this would happen to any young person,” said Miller.
“We’re doing all we can to support the family.”
Investigators are asking for anyone who saw people in the area between 11:30 p.m. and midnight to contact police.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604 463-6251, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at solvecrime.ca