Family, police eager for hammer victim's recovery

Since coming out of his coma, Rajesh Thakkar has barely been able to say a few words to his family, who have stood vigil at his hospital bedside for nearly two months.

As he falls in and out of consciousness, Thakkar will mutter a family member's name or "Jai Shri Krishna" ("Victory to Lord Krishna,") and similar exclamations glorifying Hindu deities, a younger brother said.

Family members say they dare not bring up the events of March 29, when authorities say a 15-year-old neighbor wielding a hammer attacked the 58-year-old Thakkar in a robbery.

And so far, police have not pressed him for details of the assault. Thakkar's continued recovery is the highest priority right now, Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl said.

"He is doing better," Nebl said. "He is conscious, but we're waiting for him to recuperate better. We have made contact with him briefly, but as soon as he's able to do a good interview with us, we'll talk to him some more."

Officials at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge classify Thakkar's current condition as "good."

Thakkar was attacked as he checked his mailbox on the way up to his second-floor apartment in a building on the 100 block of Pickwick Drive.

The 15-year-old girl charged with attempted murder, armed robbery and aggravated battery remains in custody at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, where officials said she was put on suicide watch after threatening to kill herself last month.

The girl is scheduled to appear in juvenile court Tuesday when a decision may be made to transfer her case to adult court.

Already charged as an adult for obstruction of justice is the girl's 18-year-old sister, Latifa Johnson.

Investigators say they believe Johnson played no part in the attack on Thakkar, but tried to clean up his blood from the apartment building foyer before police and paramedics arrived. Her next court date is June 23.

Thakkar, who has undergone surgeries to his brain and eye, is not yet fully able to speak, said the younger brother who also lives in Schaumburg but, fearful of retribution, asked not to be named for this story.

The Thakkar family is still grappling with why this happened to a man who they say went about his business and never bothered anyone.

"We go from work to home, and occasionally temple," the younger brother said. "Our whole family is always helping people. We listen (to news reports), everyday something like this happens. When it happens in your family, then you can understand what's going on."

Family members have since helped Thakkar's wife, Gita, clear out of the couple's apartment and move in with a sister-in-law in the area. She is still too distraught to talk about what her husband and their entire family have been through, the brother said.

After the attack, Thakkar's daughter and son flew in, she from California and he from Ahmedabad, India, where the family is originally from. They have since returned home, the brother said.

Thakkar has four brothers, three older than him, and six sisters who live in the Schaumburg area, as well as several family members anxiously awaiting some positive news about his health.

Thakkar still has difficulty seeing out of his right eye. Doctors are unable to say exactly when he will fully regain consciousness, the brother said.

"Nobody knows how long," he said. "If it was someone else in his place, he would be dead. He is very strong."