Girl shot in head at Annunciation goes back to school with classmates
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A girl who was shot in the head during the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School on Aug. 27 is now back at school.
Lydia Kaiser suffered a traumatic brain injury from a bullet and underwent two surgeries following the shooting, according to her parents. She is among the 21 who were injured in the shooting, in addition to two who were killed.
Harry and Leah Kaiser said Lydia was “making remarkable progress in her recovery” just over a week after the incident. Days later, Lydia was discharged from Children’s Minnesota.
Annunciation School resumed classes for elementary and middle school students on Sept. 16. A verified GoFundMe update shared Lydia had another surgery that week, but she was able to join her classmates not long after.
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“Lydia's first few days back at school have been filled up with love and lifting. She was so happy to be with her friends and teachers and get back to learning and healing in community,” wrote GoFundMe organizer Jesse Wolf on Tuesday.
Wolf wrote Lydia needs ongoing care for the foreseeable future but is improving every day.
“She has to take a break from her favorite sports, volleyball and basketball, and that is hard for her, but she will be cheering her teammates on all the way,” added Wolf.
The Annunciation community gathered to mark one month since the shooting on Saturday. Lydia joined her family for a prayer service at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Her father, a gym teacher at Annunciation, led a prayer at the school earlier in the morning.
“For an end to the violence perpetrated by harsh words, deadly weapons or cold indifference, may our homes, our nation and countries around the world become havens of peace. Let us pray to the Lord. God of peace, hear our prayer,” said Harry Kaiser.
On Saturday, school leaders thanked police, donors, and other supporters for helping them reopen the school. They said security teams, including community service officers from the Minneapolis Police Department, have been present at recess and lunch.
Leaders also said Annunciation would resume regular school hours and a five-day schedule this week.
