12-Year-Old Girl, Who Was Injured Protecting Another Child During Minn. Catholic Church Shooting, Speaks Out: I’m ‘Angry’

Nearly two months after the devastating Minneapolis Catholic Church shooting that left two children dead and more than a dozen others injured, 12-year-old Lydia Kaiser is sharing how she’s healing — both physically and emotionally.

In an Oct. 16 update on a GoFundMe page created to support her recovery, Lydia expressed gratitude for the love and encouragement she’s received since the Aug. 27 tragedy.

“I’m doing ok,” she wrote. “I’ve been allowed to return to school which is great because I missed my friends and it was hard to miss out on so much.”

Lydia was injured while shielding a younger student during mass at Annunciation Catholic Church and was hospitalized in very serious condition. She continues to recover from her injuries, but says she’s finding strength in small victories.

“I still can’t play sports, but I’ve been cheering on my friends and running the scoreboard,” she shared. “I get tired more than usual but I’m not really getting headaches like I used to.”

In her message, the eighth grader also talked about the physical reminders of what she’s endured. “My hair is starting to grow back and it looks fuzzy where they shaved it off for my surgery,” she said. “I hope it grows back before I start high school. I don’t think it will grow that fast though.”

Lydia took time to honor her classmates Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, who were killed in the attack carried out by 23-year-old Robin Westman, who later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“I’m so sad for Harper’s sister and Fletcher’s siblings,” Lydia wrote. “Sometimes I think I’m going to wake up from a dream even though I know what happened is real. It’s so hard to believe I actually got shot, and other kids did too. It makes me angry, but I don’t want to let the shooter win.”

This year marks Lydia’s final one at Annunciation Catholic School — a place she described as “like my home and my family.” She said she’s determined “to do everything I can to enjoy my 8th grade year.”

“Thank you so much for your prayers and for all your love and support,” she added.

As of Oct. 16, the GoFundMe has raised more than $423,000 to help Lydia and her family.

Following the attack, Rep. Ilhan Omar shared an update on social media about the 12-year-old, noting that she was in intensive care but “headed in the right direction.”

In total, 18 people — including 15 children — were injured in the August shooting.