Injured friend speaks of deep affection for Natasha

STACY JURICH, who has close to 20 staples pinned to the back right side of her head, has spoken of her deep affection for friend Natasha.

In an interview from her hospital bed, Ms Jurich described how she has been suffering from short term memory loss and seizures but is in a much better condition than the Irish student.

She was speaking from the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, but hopes to be transferred to Northwestern Memorial, where Ms McShane was transferred on Tuesday.

That was the reason for removing her IV drip and going over to talk to Ms McShane when the two were still in same hospital.

“I care for Natasha deeply, and the idea that I was going to be possibly transferred to a different floor or a different hospital, I had to just be with her and hold her hand and be at her bedside and to let her know that I was there for her,” Stacy said.

“I was determined whether someone gave me permission or not.”

She said the pair had been friends since Natasha moved to the US in January, a short time but enough to form a real bond.

“She is a woman that has such an impact on my life. A girl that can just make a face at you and crack you up and turn on that heavy Irish accent and feed you a line that you are kind of confused about what she said but you can’t stop laughing and you love her more. She’s an amazing woman.”

Stacy also spoke of how she hopes the individuals “that did this terrible, terrible thing are sentenced and are put behind bars and do not have the opportunity to hurt another person and another family, another neighbourhood for that matter”.

“My desire is to speak on behalf of Natasha and myself because she unfortunately can’t right now. Her family deserves justice.”

The 24-year-old financial adviser also vowed to help people be aware of the dangers on the street, particularly for women, that “we can make extra effort to try and be safe”, though the attack on the pair was particularly random and senselessly violent.

She also spoke of her own battle for health following last Friday’s attack.

“I’m just making progress everyday and that’s all I can ask for. Obviously it’s a struggle just trying to do day-to-day activities.”

Ms Jurich is taking a lot of medication, for whiplash caused by the force of the bat hitting her head, which she said is filled with stitches and somewhere from “17 to 20 staples along the back right side”.

“I don’t have equilibrium. Obviously I was hit so hard that I’m having problem with short-term memory and seizures.”