“She was barely breathing,” recalled paramedic Luis Mendoza, one of the first responders. “But she still had a pulse. That was enough for us to keep fighting.”
Sophia was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center, where trauma teams prepared for emergency surgery. The bullet had lodged deep in her skull, causing massive swelling. Neurosurgeon Dr. Walt Galicich led the procedure. “The first 24 hours were critical,” he said. “We weren’t sure she’d survive the night.”
But Sophia did. And then another night. And another. Her parents, Mark and Elise Forchas, never left her side. “We told her, ‘You’re strong, sweetheart. Don’t give up,’” her mother said. Their faith and her fighting spirit kept her alive when medicine alone couldn’t.
As word spread, Minneapolis came together in prayer. Candlelight vigils appeared outside the hospital. Thousands followed updates through a Facebook page titled Prayers for Sophia. Even local sports teams and churches across the state sent messages of support. “Sophia became a light for this city,” said Father Gregory Holtz, the parish priest. “She reminded us that grace can still find a way, even in the darkest moments.”
For weeks, Sophia’s condition remained fragile. Doctors warned her family not to expect recovery. Then, one September morning, a nurse saw her hand move. Days later, Sophia opened her eyes. “When she squeezed my hand, I knew she was still with us,” her mother recalled, tears streaming down her face.
From there, Sophia began doing the impossible. She could move her right side, respond to voices, and whisper words. The bullet remains in her skull — removing it could be too dangerous — yet her recovery has stunned even her surgeons. “She’s the definition of strength,” Dr. Galicich said. “What we’re witnessing is nothing short of miraculous.”
Sophia has since left the ICU for rehabilitation. Each day, she spends hours in therapy — relearning to walk, speak, and write. Her therapists describe her as determined and full of light. “She jokes with us even when she’s exhausted,” said physical therapist Megan Larson. “Every time she says, ‘Let’s try again,’ we’re reminded why we do this work.”
Her parents share frequent updates online, filled with gratitude for the community that never stopped believing. “Your prayers are working,” her father wrote. “Sophia reads your messages and smiles. They give her strength.”
While Sophia’s survival is a miracle, the city continues to mourn. The attack claimed the lives of 8-year-old Michael Ortiz and 10-year-old Clara Jensen. Memorials have been held across Minneapolis in their honor, with hundreds attending to grieve and pray together.
