Disabled girl, 7, gravely injured during Oregon school shooting moved out of ICU — as nearly $1.1M in donations pour in

A 7-year-old girl who was shot in the face by madman Griffin J. John II during his Oregon elementary school rampage has been moved out of the intensive care unit — as her family deals with the “hardest time of our lives.”

Saylor Graham-Poarch, who is disabled and often used a wheelchair, was left in critical condition after John, 16, heinously opened fire — killing four — inside a special needs classroom at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend on Oct. 15.

Saylor Graham-Poarch, 7, has been moved out of the ICU after she was critically wounded in a mass shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. GoFundMe

Graham-Poarch is now stable and has been moved out of the ICU — though she has a long recovery still ahead of her, her family told KPTV.

“Even as we’re grateful for Saylor’s progress, our hearts are broken for the families of the three children and the teacher who were killed. We are holding them close, and we grieve with them,” the family said in a statement.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed for Saylor, sent messages, and shown our family so much love during the hardest time of our lives. We can’t respond to everyone individually, but please know that every kind word, prayer, and act of support means more to us than we can say,” the statement continued.

“Above all, please keep Saylor in your thoughts and prayers as she heals. We are beyond grateful that she is still here with us,” her family added.

Two separate fundraisers to help Graham-Poarch’s family with medical expenses, lodging and other financial burdens neared $1.1 million as of Monday night.

Fundraisers to help Graham-Poarch’s family neared $1.1 million as of Monday night. South Oregon Sparrows Club

The little fighter was already well known in the community for her bubbly personality and pink glasses, and the high school adopted her as a “Sparrow”— a term affiliated with a nonprofit where teenagers help raise money to fund a child’s medical expenses.

“Saylor is the definition of light and joy. And one of those kids that, you know, when she’s in the room. You can’t think of anything else other than what Saylor’s doing; ‘I need to get to know her,’” Matt Sampson, Sparrow Clubs USA executive director, previously told the Central Oregon Daily.

“She’s just very inspirational, very joyful, very courageous, and inspirational.”

Saylor, who was also nonverbal, was adopted by Bend Senior High School as part of the nationwide program in the 2024-25 academic year.

Although she frequently used a wheelchair, she was able to walk on her own, ive development, as well as dysphagia, a disorder that makes it difficult for her to swallow food and drink, according to a 2024 announcement.

The “sweet, happy, adorable, and resilient” girl battles CASK, a gene mutation that impacts her physical and cognitive development, as well as dysphagia, a disorder that makes it difficult for her to swallow food and drink, the announcement said.

Flowers and candles are seen at a makeshift memorial outside Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, a day after a deadly shooting. AP Photo/Joe Kline

Griffin used his mom’s shotgun to blast through the door at Silver Rail before unleashing carnage inside, targeting his former special education classroom just before 1 p.m. on Oct. 15, police said. 

Three students — Rhoam Summer, 5, and two other unidentified students, ages 8 and 11 —  were tragically killed in the gunfire, as well as teacher and beloved volleyball coach, Megan Lambert, 25.

Teacher Becky Drury was also hospitalized after her hand was “almost completely severed” by gunfire. She has since undergone surgery on her left arm and right hand.

Heroic dad Kaylub Giamanco, whose two daughters attend the elementary school, rushed into the school and fatally shot John to stop the massacre.

Silver Rail remains closed indefinitely.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *