Saylor Graham, 7, is fighting for her life after being shot in an Oregon elementary school massacre that left four others dead.
The little girl, known in Bend for her pink glasses and radiant personality, remains in serious but stable condition following Thursday’s attack at Silver Rail Elementary School. She was struck in the face when a teenage gunman opened fire in a special education classroom.
Saylor had already captured the hearts of local teenagers long before the violence. Bend Senior High School adopted her during the 2024-25 academic year through Sparrow USA, a nationwide program that pairs schools with children facing serious medical challenges. The high schoolers raised money for her care through sponsored community service, cheering her on as her family navigated her complex medical needs.
Matt Sampson, Sparrow USA’s executive director, described her magnetic presence to Central Oregon Daily.
“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,'” he said.
Saylor battles CASK, a rare gene mutation that impacts physical and cognitive development, along with dysphagia, which makes swallowing difficult. She was nonverbal and used a wheelchair at times, though she could walk independently. A 2024 program announcement called her “sweet, happy, adorable, and resilient.”
Sampson emphasized how the teenager-to-toddler connection transformed the older students.
“Saylor was the Sparrow catalyst for Bend High School when she was a Sparrow, and the little girl was used to teach kids things that many of us probably couldn’t have taught them without her,” he told the newspaper.
The same school where Saylor once attended kindergarten became the scene of unimaginable bloodshed when Griffin J. John II, 17, stormed in Thursday. Investigators say he fired at least 15 shots in the special education classroom before a teacher tackled him. Kaylub Giamanco, a father who rushed in, then fatally shot the teen attacker.
Three students — 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, an 8-year-old, and an 11-year-old — were killed, along with teacher Megan Lambert, 25. Teacher Becky Drury, 54, survived but also remains in serious condition.
Giamanco later reached out publicly to Saylor’s family through a Facebook comment on Central Oregon Daily’s story.
“I would really like to reach out to this family and this beautiful little girl,” he wrote.
Sampson voiced hope and solidarity for the wounded child and her relatives.
“She’s a fighter, and we’re praying that she fights through this and her family. I want to express to her family how much we love them and how valuable they are to us,” he continued.
“We’re here for them in whatever way we can be. They’re fighters, and they’ll need a lot of support. I’m so glad this community is giving it to them, but they’re fighters, and I believe in them.”
The Bend community has rallied behind Saylor. Portello Lounge, a local restaurant, announced a Sunday fundraiser with a simple message: “We’re coming together for 7-year-old Saylor as she bravely heals from unimaginable tragedy.”
Police continue probing John’s motive. His weapon had been legally purchased by his mother, Shauntai Nickerson, around the time of his August birthday, sources said.
Saylor’s survival, alongside Drury’s, stands as a slender thread of hope amid devastation that has shattered a tight-knit Oregon city and drawn national grief.