The family of a Nova Scotia man left paralyzed from the waist down after a vicious stabbing is speaking out for the first time.

Lois Waugh and her daughters have been quiet since her son, 27-year-old Scott Jones, was stabbed on a New Glasgow street on Oct. 12.

This week they posted a video on YouTube, thanking people for their love and support as Jones remains in hospital, paralyzed from the waist down.

“We all feel, Scott included, that we are being cradled in the arms of those who love him,” says Waugh in the video.

“Initially, we were just really grateful that Scott was alive. We never dreamed that there would be such support, overwhelming support, for Scott and his family.”

Jones and a group of friends were out celebrating a gallery opening in downtown New Glasgow when he was stabbed two blocks from a church.

Family and friends of the well-known musician and choir director believe he was targeted because he is gay.

Donations have been pouring in to the Support Scott Jones website since the attack and several fundraisers are in the works, both in Pictou County and in Halifax.

Fundraising organizer Stephanie Cooper organized a meeting where people could share ideas on how to raise money, from concerts and choirs, to selling rainbow buttons that say, ‘Don’t be afraid.’

“It’s really just a way for people to just sort of carry a piece of Scott around with them,” says Cooper. “Let people know that they’re sort of thinking of him and that they are supporting him.”

The Pictou County Yoga Studio is also reaching out, hosting a karma class for Jones on Friday.

“We ask people to come and share their positive energy and a donation if they choose, so there’s no certain amount,” says yoga instructor Leanne Burrows. “You just come and we want to bring the community together to show our support.”

Knitters are being invited to create a prayer shawl this Saturday with the Multicultural Society at the New Glasgow Library.

“Imagine the positive energy in that room, the positive energy, the prayers, everything going into that blessing, into that prayer shawl for Scott, and that’s the idea behind it,” says Nanda Shirke of the Multicultural Association of Pictou County.

The Empire Theatres in New Glasgow has promised to donate half of Tuesday’s ticket sales to the Scott Jones fund. Many of the showings sold out and Empire says they will be donating $3,980 to the cause.

Donations can also be made at any Scotiabank branch in Canada.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh