Stab victim Abigail can talk again after 'miracle'

Abigail Witchalls, who was paralysed after being stabbed in the neck, has regained the power of speech in a "miracle recovery".

The deeply religious mother-of-two, who was only able to communicate by blinking, is dictating a chapter for a book about Lourdes.

Speaking after a visit to the pilgrimage site, the 30-year-old, from Little Bookham, Surrey, told of her recovery since the motiveless attack in daylight four years ago.

She said: "Since my spinal injury I had prayed to God for healing.

"He did heal me. Not physically, but he freed me to love life and to know daily the joy I had longed for. This is one of God's miracles."

She was stabbed by Richard Cazaly, 23, only yards from her home, while walking with her son Joseph, then two, in April 2005. Cazaly later killed himself. Mrs Witchalls was given little chance of survival. In the agonising first weeks of her recovery she kept her spirits up composing poetry by blinking out each letter.

It emerged Mrs Witchalls was 10 weeks pregnant at the time of the attack and she amazed doctors and husband Benoit by giving birth to their son Dominic, despite her injuries.

Her mother, Professor Sheila Hollins, said: "She lives a very full life. She has hope, she's optimistic."