A 12-year-old girl, previously described by medical professionals as being "on the brink of death" following a gunshot wound to the head during a school shooting in Minneapolis, is set to begin rehabilitation this week.
Sophia Forchas, a seventh-grade student at Annunciation Catholic School, sustained her injuries when a gunman opened fire during morning mass on August 27. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 18 others.
According to NBC News, a bullet became lodged in Sophia's right occipital lobe, necessitating a decompressive craniectomy, a procedure where surgeons removed half of her skull to accommodate brain swelling. As reported by the Daily Caller, neurosurgeon Dr. Walt Galicich remarked at a September 6 press conference, "If you had told me at this juncture that 10 days later wed be standing here with any ray of hope, I would have said It would take a miracle.'"
In a statement released through Hennepin Healthcare, Sophia's family described her recovery as "miraculous," expressing gratitude for the support they have received. "Your prayers have been powerful. Sophia surviving this horrific attack is a miracle. Her healing progress is nothing short of miraculous," the statement read.
The family further noted that Sophia "continues to make steady progress, showing promising signs of neurological recovery."
Sophia's mother, employed as a healthcare assistant at Hennepin Healthcare, was among those treating victims of the shooting, unaware that her own daughter was among the injured. Her father, Tom Forchas, described Sophia as "kind, she is brilliant, she is full of life, she is an innocent child who was attacked while in prayer."
A GoFundMe campaign has successfully raised over $1 million to cover medical expenses. Meanwhile, Sophia's 9-year-old brother, who witnessed the shooting, was unharmed physically. The attack claimed the lives of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski.
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