Purple Heart sent to girl stabbed 19 times

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin girl stabbed 19 times, allegedly by classmates trying to please a fictional online character, has received a military Purple Heart from an anonymous donor.

The girl’s family had asked that well-wishers send her purple hearts, reflecting her favorite color and shape, and the 12-year-old was inundated with paper hearts from across the country. Then one person sent her the real thing.

The girl’s family said Tuesday that the medal came with a card that read: “The only heart I could find! Be strong!”

The military awards the Purple Heart to veterans wounded or killed in action.

Investigators say the girl nearly died in May after being lured to a park and attacked by two 12-year-old girls after a sleepover in Waukesha, outside Milwaukee. She’s now recovering at home.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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