A neurosurgeon at HCMC who has been caring for 12-year-old Sophia Forchas said Friday that while it was uncertain whether she will survive her injuries from the Annunciation Church shooting, he was optimistic.
“There is a chance that maybe she is the third fatality in this event,” Dr. Walt Galicich said. “But the door’s been opened a little bit. There’s some rays of hope shining through.”
Sophia is one of 21 people, including 18 children, who were wounded in the attack last week. Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, died from gunshot injuries.
Sophia was shot in the head, where a bullet is still lodged, Galicich said. An important blood vessel was damaged, causing swelling and pressure in her brain.
He said there was no benefit from removing the bullet, and emphasized he does not know what the likely outcome is for Sophia. But he called it a “miracle” she is alive after 10 days with a chance to survive.
Galicich said the pressure in Sophia’s brain has been managed well. She’s been placed in medically-induced comas, with breaks in between. When awake, he said Sophia has some level of awareness of her surroundings but can’t follow commands.
“It’s day by day. I can’t tell you how it’s going to end,” Galicich said. “We’re trending in the right direction at this point.”
Galicich spoke Friday at a news conference at HCMC. He was joined by Sophia’s father, Tom Forchas, who said the last 10 days have been the longest and hardest of their lives. He said his wife has not left Sophia’s side.
