Even after 15 stab wounds, a blood-soaked woman made sure her baby was safe.
Supanee Saensree, 31, was attacked in Auckland while she lay sleeping with her 18-month-old daughter on August 5.
She suffered wounds to her face, hands and back.
Saensree ran with her child in her arms, screaming for help before collapsing on the kerb in a pool of her own blood.
"I tried to hold the baby tight and protect her.
"It was hard to breathe because blood came out of my mouth. Blood spilt on the road and on my baby.
"I thought I was going to die."
Saensree, who moved to New Zealand from Thailand five years ago, was rushed to hospital fighting for her life.
Her lung collapsed and her ribs were fractured from a deep wound in her back. Her face and hands were badly slashed.
Police called Saensree's fiance, Roger McRae, at work and told him to go to a quiet place and sit down. When he heard what happened he said "holy s***" and was quickly rushed to hospital by police to be with her.
McRae, 40, walked into her hospital room and the floor was covered in blood. Emergency services told him they were surprised she survived.
She had an 11-hour surgery the next day, "basically to sew her up", he said.
McRae said they haven't told their children what happened except that 'mum got hurt'.
Saensreealso has a 4-year-old son who lives with the couple.
"The kids were shocked when they first saw her," McRae said.
"They all cried and didn't want to go near her."
Four months on and Saensree is struggling. She gets panic attacks, flashbacks, nightmares and can't sleep through the night. Physically she can't bend down, her hands aren't strong and she can't pick up her children.
She spent her savings on flying her mum out from Thailand to help her. She tried to go back to work at a sushi shop but has pulled back now as it was hindering her recovery.
The family had been staying with a relative for a year trying to save money for a house. But being homeowners has "gone out the window" with endless medical expenses, McRae said.
McRae said she has had about 40 GP visits, a weekly meeting with a psychologist and countless physiotherapy appointments. ACC doesn't cover her reflexology and massage and Saensree still has to pay a portion of her GP appointments.
And the costs won't stop soon. Next year she will undergo more surgeries to repair the scarring on her face. McRae said the family were struggling financially and might not be able to buy Christmas presents for their children.
But it's the recovery of his fiancee that McRae is most concerned about. He wants to help her get "that spark" back.
"She was a very independent, very strong lady. She's still a strong lady now but she's lost that spark. Her moods are up and down.
"I just have to do everything I can do to keep her supported."
A person has been charged with attempted murder and the matter is before the courts.
You can donate via www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4supanee
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