12-Year-Old Girl Survives Gunshot to the Head, Stuns Doctors with Her Recovery

Her name is Sophia Forchas. She is 12 years old. She was shot in the head — and she is still fighting. A Tragedy That Struck Without Warning. The shooting took place during a time and place that should have been safe — a school, a church, a sacred community space. As details of the event slowly emerged, families waited in agony for news about their children. In a cruel twist of fate, Sophia’s mother — a pediatric critical care nurse — was at her hospital shift when the news began to break. At first, she didn’t know that her own daughter was one of the children rushed into the emergency department with life-threatening injuries.

She had dedicated her career to saving the lives of other children, and now she found herself on the other side — a parent clinging to hope, standing beside her daughter’s hospital bed, unsure of what the next hour would bring. Sophia’s younger brother was also at the school during the incident. Miraculously, he escaped physically unharmed, though the emotional impact will undoubtedly linger for years to come.

A Bright Light in a Dark Hour

Sophia has been described by her family as a girl full of light — bright, curious, compassionate, and spirited. Her presence brought joy to every room she entered, and her love for learning, her empathy for others, and her quiet confidence made her stand out even among her peers.

In the aftermath of the shooting, she was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The bullet, which remains lodged in her skull, caused massive swelling in her brain. Doctors performed emergency surgery to relieve pressure, but the extent of her injuries led many to fear the worst.

Dr. Walt Galicich, the lead neurosurgeon on her case, spoke openly and honestly about the grim outlook in the early days. Continue reading…