12-year-old with bullet still in brain makes 'miraculous' recovery after Minneapolis church shooting

A 12-year-old girl who had a bullet lodged in her brain during the Aug. 27 shooting at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis is making a 'miraculous' recovery, her family said Saturday. Sophia Forchas, a seventh-grader, was the most seriously wounded survivor after authorities said she was shot in the head and left on the brink of death. The family said she has been moved from an acute-care ward to an inpatient rehabilitation program and is showing signs of neurological recovery.

Doctors faced a difficult decision about removing the bullet because its location was in a critical area of the brain. Neurosurgeon Dr. Walt Galicich said that removing it would require entering "the normal brain" and could cause more damage, with only a low chance of survival. The bullet had remained in place for days, and surgeons had to remove the left half of Sophia's skull to relieve pressure.

Though initial prognosis was grim, Sophia has gradually regained neurological function and can breathe on her own. Her family said she is making progress and described the development as miraculous. The church shooting killed an eight-year-old boy and a ten-year-old girl; 18 others were injured. The hospital has now cleared the 12-year-old to leave an acute care ward and join an inpatient rehab program to monitor her recovery. "Though she still has a long journey ahead, filled with extensive therapy, her resilience continues to inspire hope at every step," her family said. "Sophia is winning! Your Prayers are working," they added, thanking their supporters.

Her mother, a nurse at Hennepin Healthcare, was on duty the day of the shooting, not knowing that her own child was among the victims. The Forchas family's 9-year-old son was also inside the church but was not injured. As Sophia begins a structured rehabilitation plan, doctors emphasize that the road to full recovery is measured in months and require ongoing therapy across multiple disciplines. Clinicians cautioned that even as gains appear, recoveries of this kind can be uneven and require long-term medical and rehabilitative support.

The Aug. 27 attack at the Church of the Annunciation claimed two young lives and injured 18 others, marking a traumatic event for the Minneapolis community. The case prompted renewed discussions about safety at faith-based spaces and support for families affected by mass violence. In the days and weeks following the shooting, Sophia’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical and rehabilitation expenses, while friends and supporters offered prayers and messages of strength.

Sophia’s medical team at Hennepin Healthcare has continued to provide updates on her condition as she progresses through rehabilitation. While the family remains hopeful, they also acknowledge the long path ahead and the unpredictable nature of brain recovery. The latest updates emphasize that Sophia’s improvements, while encouraging, do not erase the gravity of the injuries she sustained. The public, in turn, has expressed support through social media and fundraising pages, underscoring the community’s concern for the young victim and her family during a period of healing.