Miracle Recovery: 12-Year-Old Sophia Forchas Released After Minneapolis Church Shooting
Imagine working a shift in a hospital intensive care unit, only to realize that your own child might be among the critically injured victims of a mass shooting. This was the harrowing reality for Amy Forchas, a pediatric critical care nurse in Minneapolis, when her 12-year-old daughter, Sophia, was rushed to the very hospital where she worked following a deadly attack at their local Catholic church. The stakes could not have been higher—and the outcome, nothing short of miraculous.
Sophia Forchas was the most seriously injured child among the survivors of the August 27 shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. During morning Mass, a gunman opened fire through church windows, killing an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old and injuring 21 others—18 of them children.
On Thursday, October 23, Sophia was released from Gillette Children’s Hospital, a milestone her parents called “one of the most extraordinary days of our lives.” Amy and Thomas Forchas praised the medical teams for their dedication, saying their care “carried us through” the most terrifying days of their lives.
Sophia’s recovery continues with outpatient therapy, but her parents shared hopeful updates: her speech is improving daily, her personality is shining through, and she is regaining physical abilities, including walking, swimming, and even dribbling a basketball.
In a joyful celebration, Catholic Spirit shared a video of Sophia returning to the hospital where she was treated. Staff held banners reading “Sophia Strong” alongside birthday messages ahead of her 13th birthday. She arrived in a limousine escorted by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
Amy Forchas, working in the ICU during the shooting, had no idea her daughter had been critically injured. Sophia’s neurosurgeon, Dr. Walt Galicich, explained that she was shot in the left temporal lobe, with the bullet lodged in her right occipital lobe, requiring surgery to remove part of her skull to relieve brain swelling. Sophia and her younger brother were students at Annunciation Catholic School; her brother was inside the school during the shooting but was unharmed.
A GoFundMe campaign supporting the family’s recovery has raised over $1 million, reflecting the outpouring of community support.
Conclusion
Sophia Forchas’ release from the hospital is a powerful testament to resilience, courage, and the vital role of dedicated medical professionals. While the trauma of the church shooting leaves lasting scars, her recovery offers hope and inspiration. Sophia’s story embodies the strength of family, the power of community support, and the unwavering love of a mother who never left her side—even unknowingly at her workplace during the crisis.