Lying in an intensive care unit hospital bed, 11-year-old Genevieve Bisek finds solace in the numerous handmade cards her classmates have sent her following the shooting incident at a Minneapolis church on Wednesday.
Some cards are embellished with beads, others with shimmering stars, and all are affixed to the walls of her room at the Hennepin County Medical Center, where she is recuperating. Her medical condition has improved from critical to satisfactory.
“These handmade cards are truly adorable and heartfelt,” shared Genevieve’s aunt, Wanda Stipek, during a phone conversation with The Associated Press on Saturday. “These are from other kids who have experienced their own trauma but continue to express their love for her. She has positioned these cards on the walls of her room so she can feel surrounded by that love.”
Genevieve was among the 20 individuals shot during the assault at the Church of Annunciation, where hundreds of students from the adjacent Annunciation Catholic School, along with others, had gathered for a Mass. The shooter launched 116 rifle rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to 18 individuals, mostly children. The assailant, 23-year-old Robin Westman, died by suicide.
As of Saturday, at least seven people remained hospitalized. A spokesperson for Hennepin County Medical Center reported five children under treatment, four in satisfactory condition and one in critical, along with an adult in serious condition. A representative from Children’s Minnesota – Minneapolis Hospital stated that one patient was under their care.
Genevieve, a sixth grader at the Catholic school who enjoys animals and outdoor activities, regained consciousness following the shooting, according to Stipek. Once the authorities ensured the church was safe, she was assembled with other children for injury assessment and was transported to the hospital by ambulance with another wounded student, her aunt explained.
Medical staff sedated Genevieve until Thursday.
“Genevieve is a very sensitive and compassionate little girl,” Stipek said. “When she did wake up from her sedation after the event, the first thing that she wanted to talk about, she asked about the other children.”
Stipek said Genevieve told her mother, “I can’t say that I wish this wouldn’t have happened to me because I don’t want it to have happened to anyone else either.”
Stipek said Genevieve has not been told yet who died. She said one of the students killed, Fletcher Merkel, 8, was a neighbor and friend of the family.
The handmade cards and other outpourings of support from the community, including ribbons tied around trees in the neighborhood and donations made online, have helped the family cope with their trauma, Stipek said.
“I think sometimes that when something terrible like this happens, you think of the world as a scary and dangerous place full of bad people. But we are very moved by the goodness,” she said. “All of those things show the love and support, and all of it helps us know that there’s goodness out there. I think that’s part of the healing process. It’s important for us to remember that the world is still full of good people.”
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