'Long road ahead' for victim of Saskatoon school fire attack, but relative has high hopes for recovery
Students returning to school Tuesday asked to wear purple to show support for victim
The recovery process has begun for a 15-year-old girl who was lit on fire in her high school.
The attack took place at Evan Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon on Sept. 5. The victim was taken to hospital with serious burn injuries and has since been relocated to Edmonton for further treatment.
"[She's] doing better than when she was first admitted," a relative of the victim told CBC in a written statement. CBC has agreed not to name the relative to protect the family's privacy.
"She is still pretty sedated and still intubated, the swelling has gone down and it is still the early days but she is young and strong. We have high hopes for her recovery."
Her body is fine from the legs down, explained the relative, saying the girl can wiggle a leg to respond to questions in moments she is conscious.
Students at the school are being asked to return to class Tuesday and are being asked to wear purple, the victim's favourite colour, to show their support for her and her family.
"Purple was just a colour that stood out for her," the victim's grandmother told the Canadian Press.
The relative that communicated with CBC said the recovery process will be a long one.
"Her life is completely derailed and she has to work hard to find a new path forward," her relative said. "It will be a long road ahead but I believe the support she has will help her get there."
Outpouring of support from the community
Support has come through in the form of donations to a GoFundMe page set up by a relative.
The GoFundMe page set up on Friday surpassed its donation goal in less than four hours.
The fundraising page has currently passed $60,000 worth of donations, far surpassing its original goal of $25,000.
"It is just humbling to me how fast and how much the community has rallied behind [her]," said the relative. "The amount that has been donated by total strangers that just want to give out of the goodness of their hearts brought me to tears."
The parents of the victim are focusing on being there for their daughter in Edmonton at this time, the relative explained.
Money raised will go toward any hospital and surgery expenses, said the relative, but also any household bills, utilities and car payments while the parents take time to be with their daughter.
"I also know that [the girl] has a super long and hard journey ahead of her and that she is expected to undergo many surgeries, so I assume they will put some of the money away for her future surgeries and needs then," said the relative.
Student counselling plans in place
The public school board said they have been consulting with one of North America's leading trauma response experts in anticipation of students returning to school.
Counselling resources will be available to all students, including the ones that witnessed the incident.
A witness said the girl had liquid from a black canister poured onto her head which was then lit on fire.
The witness said several teachers came out of their classrooms to save her, using clothing to put out the flames.
Police have said a teacher who was trying to put out the fire was also sent to hospital.
The alleged attacker was taken into custody by a school resource officer after the incident.
A 14-year-old girl who also attends Evan Hardy Collegiate is set to appear in court again Wednesday. She faces charges of attempted murder, arson and aggravated assault.
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