Back in July, we translated a Swedish article about a 9-year-old girl named Luna who was attacked, beaten, and raped by a teenage refugee boy from Ethiopia. At that time, Luna was fighting for her life.
As an update, we can report that Luna has survived, but she is in a wheelchair, paralyzed, and unable to speak. Her attacker, now 15 years old (they think), is serving time in some psychiatric hospital and will undoubtedly be out and about before long. Luna was not his first victim.
Last week, Luna's family gave an interview to the Swedish daily, Expressen, describing her condition and the public response has been tremendous.
The crux of the interview is described in this article from the conservative Hungarian website, Remix, in English.
Expressen has now posted an article in which Luna's aunt, Emma, describes the outpouring of support from the Swedish public after the initial Expressen interview. It is translated by Fousesquawk. We are also working to provide English subtitles to one of the videos in the article.
https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/krim/lunas-familj-om-stora-stodet-kann-vart-tack/
Luna's family on the big support: "Feel our thanks"
Posted 22 December 2022 at 18:55
Just under a week has passed since Luna's family chose to tell about the serious crime that has turned their lives upside down.
The support has been enormous- and with that comes the feeling of being less alone in their grief.
"You know who you are-feel our thanks," says Luna's aunt, Emma.
By Katrin Krantz
Staggering. Beyond all expectations.
That is how Luna's aunt, Emma, describes the (just under a) week that has passed since they went out and told Luna's story to Expressen.
Reactions have been strong. Many have reached out to the family.
"This has been hard to take in how big it has become. It feels like all of Sweden stood up and hugged us," says Emma.
She could not have foreseen the wave of warmth and sympathy that came in the wake of the reporting.
"We in the family had an ambition that Luna would be given a voice. That she would not be hidden and forgotten in the statistics, and that we would pursue her case.
They have now made contact with people who have cutting-edge competence and can give advice about, for example, Luna's rehabilitation. In the text, Emma tells how Luna is happy to greet dogs, and many dog owners have reached out and offered canine companionship.
"You become so speechless. It is so wonderful to feel that we are not alone in this darkness," says Emma.
In addition to all the greetings, many have also chosen to give money to a collection that is going to Luna.
When the collection is finished, Emma will report the total-and all the greetings that came in at the same time will be saved.
"We are going to make a folder with all the messages that Luna can look at," says Emma.
Hope for the future
The family is now going into the Christmas holidays with a wave of warmth behind them and strong feelings of support and less worry about Luna's future in practical terms.
"Imagine, for example, if Luna can have access to a handicap-equipped car and can go and visit Grandma and Grandpa when she wants. And later, when it is worn out (car), maybe she won't need a new one," says Emma hopeful for the future.
Emma and Luna's story has been noted in several media. This week, Expressen was present on TV4's "After Five", where Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer was also present and said that he wanted to see a "Luna's Law" passed. That means a change in the Privacy Law that would ensure that important information is shared among authorities like police, schools, and social services.
Emma is taking the family's case public even if it requires energy, she continues.
"I do it so I can live with myself. I see it as my duty as a human being."
Luna's mood goes up and down, and for her parents, life centers around her daily condition. There is no room for spending energy or planning for other things.
Now they will celebrate Christmas together. A restaurant in Skellefteå has offered to deliver Christmas food so that they can focus on socializing and being with Luna. But Emma wants to send a greeting to all who reached out in any way.
"We don't have time to thank every person, but you know who you are, feel our thanks."
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