Two weeks after a deranged man plunged a jagged knife into the head of a city cop, the brave officer left a Manhattan hospital yesterday — just in time to celebrate his daughter’s fifth birthday.
Officer Eder Loor thanked God and his doctors for his miraculous survival, and said he was thrilled to be going home with his family.
“I’m very happy that I’m OK,” Loor said before leaving Mount Sinai Hospital to celebrate the birthday of his daughter, Jaylin.
“I’m happy to be alive. I’m still not normal, but it’s great that they helped me out so far. Thank you, everybody.”
The 28-year-old officer was surrounded by the medical team that he credits with saving his life, and his pregnant wife, Dina.
“That’s all she wanted for her gift,” Dina said of their daughter. “We just thank God for giving us a second chance at life together.”
Some 75 cops applauded as Loor was wheeled out of the hospital.
Loor said he was feeling much better, but added, “there’s a lot of rehabilitation I have to do.”
On April 17 in East Harlem, Loor and his partner, Luckson Merisme, confronted an emotionally disturbed man whose mother had called 911 to report that her bipolar, schizophrenic son needed to be hospitalized.
When the cops arrived, Terrance Hale, 26, snapped and plunged a 3 1/2-inch blade into Loor’s temple.
As his partner chased the man, Loor incredibly yanked the knife from his skull before collapsing on the sidewalk.
Doctors operated on him for three hours. They said the blade was inches away from killing him or leaving him paralyzed or unable to speak.
“It was close,” said Dr. Joshua Bederson. He’s doing spectacularly well. He seems to have all his physical functions back. He’s very sharp mentally, and there are no speech problems.”
Hale was charged with attempted aggravated murder.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association is honoring Loor today at a luncheon, along with Officer Kevin Brennan, who survived a gunshot wound to the head in January.