Recovery fund for Shuai Hao after subway slashing

Hello everyone,

My name is Megan Cattel. My partner, Shuai Hao, was assaulted and stabbed while riding the MTA last month in a completely unprovoked attack.

We’re organizing this GoFundMe to support Shuai’s ongoing recovery and our significant outstanding bills as a result of this attack.

Here is what happened:

On the evening of August 27th, 2022, Shuai was running errands with his friend in downtown Brooklyn. At 7 PM, he was seated on the A train, and while the train was in motion en route to Hoyt–Schermerhorn station, a man suddenly leaped toward Shuai and struck him multiple times without warning. Unbeknownst to Shuai and fellow passengers on the train at the time, the attacker hid a weapon inside his fist, which left four stab wounds on Shuai’s face, neck, and right hand. Shuai also suffered from swelling on the right side of his head.

The attacker attempted to re-enter the subway car in an effort to injure Shuai a second time, but bystanders blockaded the entryway. Shortly after, he was arrested on the scene by NYPD MTA officers.

An ambulance took Shuai to the ER. In total, he needed 20 stitches to close up his slash wounds.

We also want to acknowledge Shuai was the only East Asian person in the subway car on the evening of the assault. While this case is not being charged as a hate crime, witness reports confirm that Shuai was specifically targeted in this incident. Ordinary Asian people are not scapegoats to be dehumanized and hurt, no matter how high geopolitical tensions may rise in these turbulent times. We all deserve safety when going about our day-to-day lives.

We want to urge all subway passengers to stay alert while riding on the trains. Shuai’s life was saved thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of bystanders, who reacted within seconds of the attack. Please consider attending self-defense and bystander training in your area. It could save someone’s life.

How your donations can make a difference:

While Shuai has medical insurance, the bills we’ve received are not 100% covered – and they’re still incoming. Shuai is currently receiving follow-up treatment and mental health counseling for PTSD, but mental health insurance coverage is extremely limited.

Shuai does not feel safe riding the train, so we’ve had to rely on car services to attend post-surgical care, follow-up medical appointments, and courtroom proceedings in Brooklyn, as well as for our basic daily activities.

I’ve also had to take time off work to help Shuai with his recovery, but I’m a contract worker at my current job and ineligible for paid leave. This has hurt us financially. Since the attack, we are also looking into moving to facilitate Shuai’s long-term recovery, which could result in significant relocation costs.

We waited to start a GoFundMe to see what support we might get from New York’s Victim Compensation Fund. But we’ve learned it can take up to two years to receive any support, if we get any at all. Since Shuai has health insurance, this complicates our eligibility–we won’t know what support we’ll get until sometime next year.

We’re very thankful for all the warm messages and gifts we’ve received so far from loved ones. We also want to extend our heartfelt gratitude toward the bystanders at the scene who saved Shuai’s life. Lastly, we want to thank the ER doctors and nurses who tended to Shuai at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital with first-rate care and emotional sensitivity after this violent incident.

If you are able, please consider donating.