MINNEAPOLIS (AP)
A 12-year-old girl who was shot in the head during a deadly attack at a Minneapolis Catholic church has defied all odds and walked out of the hospital to thunderous applause.
Sophia Forchas was one of nearly 200 children attending Mass at the Church of the Annunciation when a gunman opened fire through the windows, killing two and wounding 17 others. Sophia was among the most seriously injured — doctors feared she would not survive.
Surgeons at Hennepin County Medical Center performed a life-saving operation, removing part of her skull to relieve brain pressure. “We truly worried she would become the third fatality,” said Dr. Walt Galicich, her neurosurgeon. “But she fought harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
On Thursday, Sophia left the hospital, escorted by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara in a stretch limousine. As they drove through the city, crowds cheered and waved banners celebrating her recovery. “It’s nothing short of a miracle,” O’Hara said.
Her parents, Amy and Tom Forchas, called it “one of the most extraordinary days of our lives.” They thanked the medical team for saving their daughter’s life and shared that Sophia continues to improve every day — regaining her ability to walk, speak, and smile again.
Another survivor, 12-year-old Lydia Kaiser, also returned to school this month after surgeries to remove bullet fragments and relieve pressure in her brain. Both girls continue their healing journeys surrounded by love, faith, and an entire city’s support.
