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Hero of Ponte Vedra stabbing recovering after hand surgery, hopes the other victims are too

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — We’re learning more about the hero from the Ponte Vedra Beach stabbing, Saturday. Kennedy Armstrong saved two members of the Schemitz family that day.

Kennedy’s mom, Andrea Armstrong explains just how far he went to save the two women. Today, he’s recovering from a hand surgery he had Tuesday. And while he’s in a lot of pain, she said he wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again.

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“I don’t even have words for it, just very very proud Mom,” Andrea Armstrong said.

Andrea says her son, Kennedy, didn’t think twice when he rushed in to save Madison Schemitz and her mom from the brutal attack. Spencer Pearson charged after the women outside of Mr. Chubby’s Wings, Saturday afternoon.

“My first reaction to my husband was, what the hell was he thinking, he could’ve been killed himself,” Andrea said. “And then it was kind of like you know ‘Oh my God he’s amazing, you did a great thing.’”

She explains the moment Kennedy saw Pearson stab the woman; he jumped in to stop the attack. Pearson slashed the back of Kennedy’s hand from his thumb to his wrist.

“It was the doctor said, ‘a very impressive wound,’” Andrea said.

Andrea says it left a deep gash tearing through arteries, tendons, and nerves. Doctors tell her, he will require extensive physical therapy. Despite the pain, his mother says his main concern is Madison Schemitz.

“That’s his main worry right there, is her recovery and the mom’s as well,” Andrea said.

Many of the Ponte Vedra community feel the same way. Next Saturday, June 17th Mr. Chubby’s Wings is hosting a fundraiser for all the victims. Flo’s Premium Ice Cream and some of Madison’s friends are also teaming up to help.

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“There is really nothing you can do to make things better so any little thing – we really just wanted to help in any way we could,” Flo’s Premium Ice Cream owner Robin Crisb said.

And for the first time, we are learning just how much the outpouring of love means to Madison. She commented on her friend Alyssa James’s Instagram page saying: “I’m so incredibly thankful for every single one of you. Thank you, Alyssa. I love you all. 🤍”

Madison’s mom made an update on one of the GoFundMe pages saying their family is asking for privacy at this time.

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