Update on Children Injured in Minnesota School Shooting

Sophia Forchas, 12, who was shot in the head during the attack on Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on August 27 has been in a coma. She is still in critical condition but showing some signs of improvement after surgeons removed half of her skull to give her brain the room needed to swell from the bullet still lodged there.

Lydia Kaiser, who sustained a traumatic brain injury from a bullet while helping another child, was discharged from the hospital this week. Her father, a gym teacher at the school, also helped other children to safety.

Genevieve Bisek, 11, who was shot in the neck, is also home from the hospital. Her sister was uninjured and helped a younger student to safety that day.

Victor Greenawalt was released from the hospital on Friday.

Weston Halsne, a fifth grader who said Victor protected him from shots fired, was thought to be uninjured, but later, a bullet fragment was discovered in his neck near a carotid artery. Surgeons removed the fragment Wednesday and he is expected to fully recover. 

Vivian St. Clair was shot multiple times in her arm and back. Some of the bullet fragments may remain in her body the rest of her life.

Endre Gunter, 13, was shot twice, but is now home recovering.

David Haig is also home, after surgery.

Three parishioners at Annunciation Church in their 80s were also injured. Multiple pieces of shrapnel hit Sue Wilson from her eye to her brain. Most were removed by a neurosurgeon with no impact to brain function. Her husband, Ron, had a minor head laceration that required stitches. No information is available at this time on the third adult or other children who were injured. (Feven Gerezgiher, Minnesota Public Radio, September 3)

The shooting occurred at a Mass several days before the school year began. Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, died in the attack; 21 others were wounded, 18 of them children. The shooter, 23-year-old former student Robin Westman, took his own life.

Father God, thank You for the bravery of teachers and children, for the ways You rescued and protected so many, and for saving the lives of these 21 who were wounded. Please have mercy now on Sophia and Lydia, who suffered the most severe of injuries. Touch them and all these children and heal their hearts, minds and bodies completely. Comfort them with Your love and give them peace. Draw any who are lost up into Your arms to be saved. Please also comfort the Merkel and Moyski families, and Robin’s mother and family, as they mourn the death of their children. When they cry out to You, answer them with Your felt presence. Carry every parent, child, sibling and friend through this difficult time in a way that they know it is You, and use this terrible event to bring forth a hunger for You in every heart, a longing for the God of love and for salvation that gives eternal life. Provide Christian counselors, ministers and church families to help the children and others affected by the trauma to healing of the heart. Grow every child up to know You, love You and serve You with all their hearts all the days of their lives. Don’t let the enemy attack them with further evil, but give them time to heal. Touch them in such powerful ways they are filled with faith and passion for Your purposes from this day onward. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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