MINNEAPOLIS -- Sophia Forchas, the 12-year-old who doctors worried would not survive wounds she sustained during the Annunciation Church and School mass shooting, received back-to-back joyous and boisterous receptions Thursday upon her release from the hospital nearly two months later.

Under escort by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and officers who responded to the shooting, Sophia rode in a stretch limousine after being discharged from her rehabilitation stint at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul to HCMC in Minneapolis, where she and several other victims were taken on Aug. 27.

From HCMC, police led Sophia’s entourage to the school parking lot, where she again emerged from the limousine and was mobbed by her exuberant fellow students.

“Today marks one of the most extraordinary days of our lives! Our beloved daughter, Sophia, is coming home!!” Amy and Tom Forchas posted on an online fundraising campaign started on behalf of the family.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the remarkable medical professionals whose skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication brought us to this moment. ... Sophia’s healing journey continues with outpatient therapy, and the road to full recovery remains long. Yet, our hearts are filled with indescribable joy as we witness her speech improving daily, her personality shining through once more, and her ability to walk, swim, and even dribble a basketball.”

Sophia, dressed in blue sweats and a backward St. Paul Saints ball cap, flashed a big grin as the limo door swung open and she stepped out to well-wishers’ applause outside HCMC’s emergency entrance. Sophia’s father was beaming as he squeezed her arms.

The more than five-minute group hug included a “Sophia Strong” banner and another wishing her a happy birthday. She turns 13 on Saturday.

Within a moment or two, the crowd broke into a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” as a box of celebratory cupcakes and gifts awaited.

Among those there with an embrace was Dr. Walt Galicich, who gave a sobering assessment of Sophia’s prognosis less than two weeks after the shooting that killed two students and injured 28 others.

“There is a chance that maybe she is the third fatality in this event,” he said on Sept. 5 during a news conference. “But the door’s been opened a little bit. There’s some rays of hope shining through.”

Sophia was shot in the head, and an important blood vessel was damaged, the doctor outlined during the media briefing when he said it was a “miracle” she was still alive 10 days after being shot.

“Sophia coming home today is nothing short of a miracle,” read a statement from O’Hara. “I thank God for her miraculous recovery, and we are grateful to Sophia’s parents for allowing our officers who responded to be a part of this special homecoming.”

Another student who suffered a traumatic brain injury from the gunfire, 12-year-old Lydia Kaiser, returned to school last week, according to an online fundraising campaign started on behalf of her family.

Lydia had two surgeries after the shooting: one to remove a bullet fragment and another to alleviate swelling and pressure on her brain.

Killed in the shooting were Annunciation students Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10.

The shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside at the scene.

©2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.