A 12-year-old girl, who was gravely injured during the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis this past August, has been discharged from the hospital. Her parents attribute her remarkable recovery to the “miraculous power of prayer.”
Sophia Forchas sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound to the head when a gunman opened fire on August 27. In critical condition, she was immediately transported to a local hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery. Part of her skull was removed to alleviate swelling, and she was placed in a medically induced coma, according to reports from FOX 9.
On Thursday, a crowd of supporters gathered outside Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) to welcome Sophia as she left the facility. She had been receiving treatment there and had most recently undergone rehabilitation at Gillette Children’s.
In an emotional scene, Sophia Forchas, a survivor of the mass shooting at Annunciation Church and School, was greeted by well-wishers, accompanied by her father, Tom Forchas. They were met with cheers and signs of encouragement as they stepped out of HCMC in Minneapolis on October 23, 2025. (The Catholic Spirit/Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis via AP)
The release of Sophia from the hospital was described by her parents as “one of the most extraordinary days of our lives.”
“Our beloved daughter, Sophia, is coming home!!” they joyfully announced on a GoFundMe page established to support her recovery journey. The page has successfully raised nearly $1.2 million in donations, a testament to the community’s support and generosity.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the remarkable medical professionals whose skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication brought us to this moment,” her parents wrote.
They thanked doctors and rehabilitation teams at HCMC and Gillette Children’s Hospital and said Sophia is now walking, swimming and “even dribbling a basketball.”
Sophia Forchas, center, poses with members of her care and rehabilitation team outside an ambulance after being discharged from Gillette Children’s Hospital on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (GoFundMe)
“Each step she takes is a living testament to the boundless grace of God and the miraculous power of prayer,” the couple said.
The Forchas family also offered prayers for those killed and injured in the Aug. 27 shooting, writing, “May their memory be eternal.”
Two children, Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, were killed in the mass shooting and 18 people — 15 of them children — were injured.
Sophia’s mother is a pediatric critical care nurse who was at work at Hennepin Healthcare when she discovered that her daughter was among the injured, according to The Associated Press.
Forchas’ brother was also inside the school during the shooting but was not injured, her parents said.
Sophia Forchas, right, was shot in the head during the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Forchas Family)
The alleged gunman, Robin Westman, formerly Robert Westman, opened fire from outside the school at around 10 a.m., moments after students had gathered for mass, and many children were in the pews.
The horror unfolded for about 10 minutes before Westman, who was transgender, killed himself with his own weapon, police said.
