MT. HOPE, AL (WAFF) -
12-year-old Victoria Lopez made a late return to her Mt. Hope School on Monday after a seven day hospital stay. Her mom, Mandy Thirkill, said it's been a frightening time.
"She was with her grandfather and he was coming down the ladder and he had bumped the nail gun on the ladder and it went off, but he never heard the nail hit the concrete," said Thirkill.
The nail shot deep into Victoria's head, piercing her brain. Thirkill said her daughter never felt a thing.
Because of the injury, Victoria's head had to be shaved, and she wears a bandana.
Assistant Principal Ron Rikard said the kids had an idea.
"She'll have to wear a bandana for a while, and the kids came up with the idea. They didn't want her to be embarrassed, so they wanted to wear bandanas on their first day back, and I said that's an awesome idea," said Rikard.
The main objective at Mt. Hope School on this day is to make certain Victoria feels welcome at every turn.
The fact their classmate and friend could have died isn't lost on these 7th graders.
An impromptu group hug turned into tears for the bandana-wearing students.
Victoria's mom was overwhelmed.
"I was amazed. I thank everybody so much for their support," said Thirkill.
Rikard agreed the situation is touching.
"The way the students really care... This is my first year here at Mt. Hope and just to see the way they came together and care about making this girl feel comfortable, that's just awesome," said Rikard.
Victoria was surprised.
"It made me feel very good 'cause I didn't know my classmates and all would do this for me," she said.
There's a sense of pint-sized community at a place which deserves the name: Hope.
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Because of Victoria's injury, her head had to be shaved, and she wears a bandana.
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