Phil Sevilla, executive director of Project Defending Life, spoke with Leahy on Thursday morning. “He’s taking pain medication but he’s up and about using a walker,” reports Sevilla. “He’s a tough guy. He asks for everyone’s prayers.”

While forced to attend to his own health, Leahy has expressed concern for the mothers and fathers who still come to the abortion clinic each day in his absence. “He’s consoled and thankful that there are other sidewalk counselors who have been coming out to replace him at Planned Parenthood while he recuperates,” says Sevilla.

PDL Chaplain Father Stephen Imbarrato described Leahy’s recovery as “a miracle.”

“When I got to the abortion clinic, they were loading Phil into the ambulance. He seemed in good spirits but the people who had been there during the attack said he was still in a lot of pain. At the hospital, the doctors were pretty sure that Phil had a broken shoulder or a broken hip, or both.”

While Leahy waited at UNM hospital to be taken for X-rays, Father Imbarrato celebrated the Catholic sacrament of the sick and anointed Leahy with oil. He had intended to give Leahy Holy Communion, but in his rush to the hospital had forgotten to bring any consecrated Hosts.

“I was kicking myself because I had forgotten to bring Our Lord along with me,” said Father Imbarrato, “and just then, out of nowhere, the hospital chaplain came around the corner on his communion round and gave Phil the Holy Eucharist.”

Father Imbarrato also reported that a hospital orderly, seeing the rosary beads in Leahy’s hands, spontaneously began praying with Leahy as he wheeled him into the radiology department.

After the x-rays were completed, doctors were very surprised to find that Leahy had no broken bones and could go home that evening.

Leahy was knocked down by an angry pro-choice assailant on Tuesday. He fell from a scaffolding some four feet from the ground and landed hard on the concrete below on his right side. In his seventies, Leahy is highly vulnerable to broken bones in an accident of this sort.

“Either Our Lord protected him in his fall or healed him through the prayers and sacraments at the hospital,” said Father Imbarrato. “Either way, it’s a miracle.”

Police have indicated that they know who Leahy’s assailant is and hope to bring him in. As of Thursday afternoon, however, we have had no word of any arrest being made yet.

Those who wish to support Phil during his recovery, either with prayer and words of encouragement, or with material assistance, such as the delivery of some home-cooked meals, should contact the Project Defending Life offices.