KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Everybody had presumed 14-year-old Abigail Kopf was dead. She was one of the eight people shot allegedly by Jason Dalton, the man who went on a shooting spree while driving for Uber.
Abbie’s parents were having discussions about the process that would allow her organs to be harvested when Abbie squeezed her mom’s hand.
The progress she’s made since that point is remarkable. Dalton shot the teen in the head. She’s still missing part of her skull and will require surgery to rebuild it. Clad in a helmet, Abbie is up and walking, talking and now starting to eat on her own.
She may not make a 100 percent recovery, but it will likely be close. She has problems with her short term memory and the walking process, while going well, is going to require a whole lot of work.
She gets cards, books and blankets every day from well-wishers around the world. Her parents said they know how fortunate they are to still have their child.
“Every time I see a cemetery or a funeral or just a funeral home, all I can do is think to myself, I hate to be selfish, but I’m glad she’s not there,” Abbie’s mom, Vicki Kopf, said. “I’m glad she’s got the willpower to fight like she did.”