A gunshot — then ‘a miracle’
skye McBride, age 3, survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound in February. Then her long months of recovery began.
On Valentine’s Day, a 3-year-old girl in Flint, Michigan, was rushed to the hospital, with blood pouring from her head.
That evening, skye McBride had found a loaded revolver in her father’s bedroom and accidentally shot herself, police found. The bullet passed through her right eye and severed an artery in her brain, causing a massive stroke.
Her father, Michael Tolbert, became the first person charged under Michigan’s safe storage law, which made it a felony if a gun owner leaves a weapon unsecured and a child uses it to injure or kill someone. Tolbert pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial.
since the February 2024 shooting, photographer Cydni Elledge visited skye and her family to capture her recovery — described by her doctors, nurses and therapists as “a miracle” — along with ordinary moments like birthday parties and Christmas preparations.
Nearly every day, a person is killed or injured in the U.s. because a child has accidentally fired a gun, according to reports compiled by Everytown, a group that advocates for firearm safety.
Children under 6 are among the most likely victims.
February
The night of the shooting, skye undergoes an emergency craniotomy to relieve the pressure from the swelling in her skull. The surgeon finds bullet fragments embedded in the bone.
After surgery, skye is placed in a medically induced coma.
Doctors warn her family that even if she survives, she may never walk or talk again.
But before the end of February, she lifts her hand to wave at the nurses. she then starts wiggling her toes, squeezing hands — and even gives a thumbs up.
March
In early March, skye starts to talk again. she is soon speaking in full sentences, asking for her favorite foods and for wheelchair rides around the hospital.
April
After another surgery to reconstruct her skull, skye is released from the hospital, months ahead of schedule.
May
At home, skye still struggles to move the left side of her body — with limited movement in her leg and even less in her hand — so family members push her wheelchair or carry her when she wants to leave the house. she goes to four physical and occupational therapy appointments every week.
she is soon standing up on her own and trying to walk again.
February
The night of the shooting, skye undergoes an emergency craniotomy to relieve the pressure from the swelling in her skull. The surgeon finds bullet fragments embedded in the bone.
After surgery, skye is placed in a medically induced coma.
Doctors warn her family that even if she survives, she may never walk or talk again.
But before the end of February, she lifts her hand to wave at the nurses. she then starts wiggling her toes, squeezing hands — and even gives a thumbs up.
March
In early March, skye starts to talk again. she is soon speaking in full sentences, asking for her favorite foods and for wheelchair rides around the hospital.
April
After another surgery to reconstruct her skull, skye is released from the hospital, months ahead of schedule.
May
At home, skye still struggles to move the left side of her body — with limited movement in her leg and even less in her hand — so family members push her wheelchair or carry her when she wants to leave the house. she goes to four physical and occupational therapy appointments every week.
she is soon standing up on her own and trying to walk again.
August
skye faces her next big medical procedure: the replacement of her right eye with a prosthetic.
The day of her appointment, she eats an early breakfast and gets ready to leave home with her grandmother Pam Williams and aunt LaDorothy Griggs.
skye still hasn’t spoken about what happened the day of the shooting. But she knows that her eye got hurt.
August
skye faces her next big medical procedure: the replacement of her right eye with a prosthetic.
The day of her appointment, she eats an early breakfast and gets ready to leave home with her grandmother Pam Williams and aunt LaDorothy Griggs.
skye still hasn’t spoken about what happened the day of the shooting. But she knows that her eye got hurt.
skye and her grandmother Pam Williams share breakfast in the early morning.
skye and her grandmother Pam Williams share breakfast in the early morning.
At his office, Dr. Michael Bain shows skye her prosthetic eye before the procedure begins. It has been painted hazel to match her left eye.
During the procedure, skye cries when the doctor inserts the prosthesis into her eye socket.
Eventually, she calms down and looks in the mirror.
“I look so pretty!” she says.
skye McBride, before and after receiving her prosthetic eye.
skye McBride, before and after receiving her prosthetic eye.
October
skye celebrates her fourth birthday at a local party place with arcade games and rides.
skye is especially excited about her new braids, with pink and turquoise strands to match her mermaid-themed outfit.
Her mother, Donetta McBride, stands behind her as she blows out the candles.
October
skye celebrates her fourth birthday at a local party place with arcade games and rides.
skye is especially excited about her new braids, with pink and turquoise strands to match her mermaid-themed outfit.
Her mother, Donetta McBride, stands behind her as she blows out the candles.
Her family members get emotional. “We never thought she’d make another birthday,” says Williams. “I thank God every day.”
November
For months, skye has been complaining about headaches and pain around her skull.
Doctors finally determine that the replacement plate in her skull has shifted, and she will need yet another surgery to reposition it.
The procedure is scheduled for late November, shortly after her family decorated their Christmas tree — with skye’s help.
November
For months, skye has been complaining about headaches and pain around her skull.
Doctors finally determine that the replacement plate in her skull has shifted, and she will need yet another surgery to reposition it.
The procedure is scheduled for late November, shortly after her family decorated their Christmas tree — with skye’s help.
she brings her favorite stuffed animals to the hospital — including the aptly named skye from “Paw Patrol.”
After the surgery skye is dizzy and throwing up. But she also has a big question for her family: “Is my tree still up?”
December
Three weeks after the surgery, skye’s persistent headaches have subsided.
“I was sick at the doctor,” she says. “But now I'm better.”
still, the area around the plate in her skull remains swollen and soft to the touch. she may need more surgery in the future.
“she’s back to playing — but she has to be very careful,” says Williams. “It’s very delicate.”
skye will return to physical therapy in the new year. Though she can walk and run most everywhere now, she moves more slowly and has a noticeable limp. It’s unclear whether she’ll ever regain the use of her left hand.
“I still wish she could do more herself and be able to run like the other kids,” says Griggs. “she’ll always need help.”
December
Three weeks after the surgery, skye’s persistent headaches have subsided.
“I was sick at the doctor,” she says. “But now I'm better.”
still, the area around the plate in her skull remains swollen and soft to the touch. she may need more surgery in the future.
“she’s back to playing — but she has to be very careful,” says Williams. “It’s very delicate.”
skye will return to physical therapy in the new year. Though she can walk and run most everywhere now, she moves more slowly and has a noticeable limp. It’s unclear whether she’ll ever regain the use of her left hand. “I still wish she could do more herself and be able to run like the other kids,” says Griggs. “she’ll always need help.”
For now, skye’s biggest priority is Christmas. As gifts pile up under the tree, she points to each one asking, “Is this mine? Is that mine?”
skye’s hair is still growing back around the incision on the top of her skull.
“I just want her to heal,” her grandmother says.
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