A wave of joy is rippling across the country today, with the news overnight from the family of Sophia Forchas, the 12-year-old who was shot and left in critical condition following the horrific Annunciation shooting that claimed the lives of two students while the pupils were attending the first school Mass of the new school year. 

In a statement shared on the family’s GoFundMe page, the parents wrote: 

“Sophia is winning. Your prayers are working.”

Doctors who worked on Sophia had said she was “on the brink of death,” as the gunshot struck her head, leaving a bullet lodged in her brain. 

In a news conference Sept. 5, neurosurgeon Dr. Walt Galicich told reporters that he would attempt to “go through the normal brain to get there” and potentially cause more damage. Given the pressure in her brain, Sophia’s survival was extremely low. 

The neurosurgeon led a team in performing a decompressive craniectomy, which removed the left half of her skull to allow the pressure in her brain to be relieved. 

“If you had told me at this juncture that, 10 days later, we’d be standing here with any ray of hope, I would have said, ‘It would take a miracle,’” Galicich said tearfully to reporters. 

Sophia’s mother, who works as a pediatric nurse in the critical care unit at the hospital where the victims were taken, had no idea that it was her child’s school that had been attacked that fateful day. She initially had no idea that one of the three patients was her own daughter.

Sophia’s younger brother also witnessed the school shooting that day; and by the grace of God, he was left unscathed, though he is still suffering from the trauma, given the horrific event and his sister’s dire injuries. 

In the aftermath of Annunciation, the community and wider world banded together in prayer, holding each other up — and, now, the family says prayer is indeed working. 

“Your prayers have been powerful. Sophia surviving this horrific attack is a miracle. Her healing progress is nothing short of miraculous; an undeniable testament to the mercy and intervention of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each day we uncover new revelations of moments and circumstances that kept her alive and made her recovery possible. There are simply too many to be dismissed as coincidence. God has heard our prayers and wrapped Sophia in His healing embrace.”

The family went on to say that it is “by God’s will that she has come this far,” adding that “we are eternally grateful to our loving Father, who hears and answers prayers.”

“To our extended family, the Orthodox Church, our Annunciation school family, our friends and colleagues, and the many strangers who have become prayer warriors for Sophia; we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” 

The family added: 

“Please continue to pray. Pray for peace and when you pray, move your feet. Let us worship God together and walk forward in Faith, Hope, and Love. Together we can create a better tomorrow.”

The Forchas family is now waiting for their daughter to be moved to inpatient rehabilitation, where she still faces a long road, and they reiterated their profound thanks to everyone who took the time to pray for Sophia, “including His All-Holiness Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.”

Sophia’s father Tom Forchas spoke of his daughter at the Sept. 5 press gathering, saying, “Sophia is kind; she is brilliant; she is full of life; she is an innocent child who was attacked while in prayer.”

Her father ended his statement by asking all those listening to get involved when they see a need per a crucial question: “What would Jesus want you to do?” 

He added: 

“If you don’t know Jesus, learn to follow him. His path will lead you back to prayer.”

Now, this moment has led so many across the globe to reflect on the power of prayer, with hundreds of people pouring out love and support in the comments section of the family’s GoFundMe page and on social media, including Sister Theresa Maria Kovacs, who told the family: 

“As a religious Sister having taught many years in Catholic schools, my heart goes out to Sophia and her family at this most difficult time. We are praying ardently for a miracle for a full recovery for Sophia. We ask our dear Blessed Mother, all the Saints and angels to protect her and heal her in Christ’s name! God has a very special plan for her indeed!”

Denise Halstead also promised prayer, telling the family: 

“I am praying for Sophia and your family. Your pain and heartache are unimaginable! My heart hurts for you. Prayers and strength! I believe in the power of prayer and so many people are praying for you all! This is going to be the hardest journey. God has you and Sophia in his arms. Lord, protect this family. Be their strength when they are drained and have none. Help calm their fears and worries. Ease their pain and wrap them in your glory. Amen.”

Brenda Liddle told the Forchases that “our hearts break with yours over this tragedy. May God bring total healing to Sophia and her family as well as to the entire Annunciation community. Lord have mercy and help us in our time of need.”

The GoFundMe page has raised more than $1 million for the family.

As we join in prayer for seventh-grader Sophia and the entire Forchas family, we also keep 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, who died, in prayer, as well as the other injured students and adults. We pray that the families find comfort and solace in the embrace of Our Lord and that Mary wraps her mantle around them. 

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!