Irene Parker's family says her spirit remains strong while the massive wounds to her hands and face are healing.
Parker, 78, was going door-to-door, witnessing for her faith, last Tuesday, when a pit bull rushed from inside a home and attacked her.
"When we very first saw her we knew that was our mom, but she was so swollen so wasn't recognizable," said Parker's eldest daughter, Marilyn Elliot.
She wanted us to meet her mother in her hospital room to get a firsthand look at her injuries and her strong spirit.
"Her spirits are good," Elliot said. "Today she seems a little down, but under the circumstances she's doing okay."
Elliot said when the dog attacked, it went straight for her mother's face.
"He focused on her head. She put her arms up in a defensive mode and that's when he got her arms," Elliot said.
Parker suffered a broken right forearm, six broken bones in her hands, the skin was ripped away from both sides of her face, and her ear was bitten off.
"She heard everything, she knows all that went on," Elliot said.
Elliott said the woman who her mother was witnessing with, Beverly Wright, deserves a lot of credit for coming to Parker's side and trying to pull off the dog before being attacked herself.
The dog was eventually shot and killed by a neighbor.
Elliott said her mother and Wright are able to talk with each other in the hospital and each calls the other their hero.
"My mom's just...she's just a stronghold," Elliot said.
Elliott said her mother is not angry or upset with the dog's owner. She said she feels for the woman and hopes others think for her as well.
Irene Parker told us Monday that she's looking forward to getting out of the hospital and back in the neighborhoods to continue witnessing. She said it's important for her to keep doing God's work.
A fund has been set up to benefit Irene Parker. Donations can be made to the Irene Parker Medical Fun at any BOK branch. Their address is PO Box 2300, Tulsa, OK 74172.
(news9 - Mar 25, 2013)
Earlier:
- Oklahoma: Day After Pit Bull Attack: Women's Conditions Upgraded, Lawyer Weighs In
- Oklahoma: Police say man who shot attacking pit bull saved lives
- Oklahoma: Women recovering from dog attack, animal control issuing tickets
- Oklahoma: Survivors tell of their fear and their faith after being attacked by Pit Bull
- Oklahoma: Second Tulsa Woman Attacked By Pit Bull Recounts Mauling
