School-Shooting Survivor Thinks Of Those Who Died

Natalie Hintz, 13, of Moses Lake, told it like it is:

"I'm right-handed, but not anymore."

Managing a small smile at a news conference today at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle, Hintz told of her progress in recovering from the shootings that killed a teacher and two students and wounded her at Frontier Junior High School in Moses Lake on Feb. 2.

"God has been great to me. I'm alive," said Hintz who was accompanied by her parents, Phillip and Shannon, this morning just before her discharge from the hospital.

Natalie's right arm, nearly severed by the shootings, is in a cast. Doctors say her recovery has been good, but she likely will suffer permanent damage to her right hand and fingers.

The youngster came close to tears when she spoke of those who died in the shooting and their families.

"I feel very bad for the other families and as I go through recovery, my thoughts are with them," she said, her voice lowering for the first time.

Natalie's father, Phillip, praised modern medical technology and thanked the many friends and supporters who have offered sympathy to his daughter.

The result, he said, "is that Natalie has made better progress than her doctors originally thought possible.

"In this tragedy, we have seen the worst and the best - the worst was that this tragedy took place at all. The best is how people responded, cared for, and sustained us. We come away from this tragedy with a much deeper understanding and appreciation of what it means to care for one another."

Dr. Terri Massagli said a vein from Natalie's leg was used to restore blood to her lower arm and hand. The bullet also nearly severed a portion of her liver and repairs had to be made to her diaphragm and chest.

The doctor said Natalie faces months of treatment and therapy, and feelings in her fingers and right hand may never be fully restored.

The shooting occurred Feb. 2 when Barry Loukaitas, a 14-year-old ninth-grader armed with a hunting rifle, two handguns and 78 rounds of ammunition, entered an algebra class.

Fifteen minutes later, teacher Leona Caires, 49, and students, Manuel Vela Jr., and Arnold Fritz, both 14, were dead.

Hintz was wounded and underwent 12 hours of surgery at Harborview Medical Center.

Loukaitas has been charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder. A hearing on trying him as an adult is expected later this month or in April.

No motive has been made public. Dean Mitchell, Moses Lake Police Assistant Chief, has indicated that detectives have developed what they believe are motivating factors, but he refused to reveal them.