Seven-year-old Saylor Graham-Poarch has moved out of intensive care after suffering critical injuries in the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.
Her family announced Monday that she is now stable, offering an encouraging update nearly two weeks after the October 15 attack that killed three children and a teacher.
According to KVAL and KTVZ, which shared the family’s statement, Saylor’s loved ones remain focused on supporting her through the recovery ahead.
“Saylor was in critical condition at first, but she’s now stable and has been moved out of the ICU,” her family said. “She has a long recovery ahead, and right now all we want is to be with her through it.”
A hopeful step amid continuing grief
Saylor was inside a special education classroom when a teenage gunman opened fire. She was shot in the face and subsequently received emergency treatment at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland, according to The U.S. Sun.
The seven-year-old has a rare CASK-related genetic condition that affects her physical and cognitive development. She uses a wheelchair.
While her move out of intensive care marks progress, her family emphasized that their relief exists alongside grief for those who did not survive.
“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,” they said.
“We are holding them close, and we grieve with them.”
Those killed included five-year-old Rhoam Summer, two children aged eight and 11, and teacher Megan Lambert, 25, according to The U.S. Sun. Another teacher, Becky Drury, suffered serious injuries requiring surgery.
Community support helps Saylor’s family
Saylor’s family thanked everyone who had sent messages, offered prayers and contributed toward her care.
“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,” their statement read.
They explained that recovery expenses and the time needed to remain beside Saylor were placing additional financial pressure on the family.
According to New York Post reporting cited by The U.S. Sun, two fundraising campaigns had collected nearly $1.1 million combined by Monday night.
Saylor already had a connection with a local community support program before the shooting.
She was selected as Bend Senior High School’s 2024–25 “Sparrow” through Sparrow Clubs, a nonprofit that connects students with children facing serious illnesses and disabilities.
Participating students volunteer to unlock sponsor donations that help children and their families.
A December 2024 video introducing Saylor described the uncertainty surrounding her condition while celebrating her personality.
“Living with CASK is full of unknowns, which can be very hard and scary for my whole family, but it doesn’t keep me from smiling, laughing and living with joy!” accompanying text read.
A school community faces the aftermath
The attacker was shot and killed by Kaylub Giamanco, a father whose two daughters attended Silver Rail Elementary.
According to the Daily Mail, Giamanco also knew Saylor’s family. Speaking to Oregon Public Broadcasting, he expressed anguish over the children he could not save.
“The gratitude for saving people’s children is awesome. But there were ones that I didn’t save,” he said.
The school has remained closed while officials arrange repairs and support for affected families, The U.S. Sun reported. The district has also organized childcare options and free meals for students.
For Saylor’s family, the immediate focus remains her healing and being present throughout her recovery.
“Above all, please keep Saylor in your thoughts and prayers as she heals,” they said. “We are beyond grateful that she is still here with us.”
