A Quad City mom continues to recover tonight in a local hospital after a brutal attack that nearly killed her. Now, two weeks before Christmas, reality is sinking in, and friends and neighbors of Kathy Durbin are rallyng around the single mother.
"She's feeling very alone right now, like she doesn't have anybody'', said Beth Hofmann, who lives in the duplex apartment next door to Durbin in East Moline.
Durbin almost died Sunday morning when police say she was stabbed repeatedly by an ex-boyfriend who broke into her apartment.
"Her 9-year old son witnessed it all. I can't imagine what's going through that poor boy's head'', said Hofmann.
"Every nine year old deserves a Christmas right now and his mommy can't provide it for him. My goal is to have this little boy have a smile on his face on Christmas morning, " Hoffman said.
She has started an account for donations at local Wells Fargo banks, and posted the boy's list to Santa on her Facebook page. Durbin is a waitress at the Iowa Machine Shed Restaurant, and is expected to be off work for several months.
"She should be focusing on her recovery. All she talks about when we're at the hospital is him, providing for her son, her little boy and the fear she has of losing everything. It's not about her. It's about her boy'', said Hofmann.
"My plea to people is to open up your heart and wallet and help this woman and her child out".