(WWJ) Two weeks after a tragic mass shooting that devastated the students, faculty and community of Michigan State University, a surviving victim shared his first post to social media since that night.
Troy Forbush was one of five students taken to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing the night of Feb. 13, as fellow students sheltered in place across campus and law enforcement worked to clear buildings and locate the shooter.
"I took a bullet to my chest, had a brush with death, and almost didn't make it," Forbush wrote on Facebook Sunday afternoon.
He went on to praise the "incredible doctors" who saved his life during surgery and the "superhero staff" who cared for him until he was able to leave Sparrow Hospital last Thursday, Feb. 23.
"I was blessed to be the first individual discharged," Forbush wrote, "I live in support of my four fellow Spartans whose lives are forever changed, as mine is as well."
As of Thursday's update from MSU's Police and Public Safety Twitter account, one student remains in critical condition, while two are in serious but stable condition and another is in fair condition.
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While authorities have not provided any personal information about those still recovering, family and friends have identified Guadalupe "Lupe" Huapilla-Perez and John Hao -- an international student from China -- as two of the victims still at Sparrow Hospital.
Forbush also shared something of his mindset as he faces a long recovery.
"There was a time when I used to dream of getting into this school -- now, I represent it," his post reads. "My world has been turned upside down so suddenly but I refuse to be a number, a statistic."
He concluded his post with a promise to take action.
"Alongside my family, friends, community, university, & state government officials, we will enact change... This is only the beginning. Rest in power Alexandria, Arielle, and Brian. #SpartanStrong."
A March for Our Lives rally was held near the Michigan State Capitol building last Monday, with students, teachers and local leaders calling for gun control reforms. Another rally is scheduled for this afternoon and will be led by MSU students.
The three students who died in the shooting -- Alexandria Verner, age 20, a junior from Clawson; Arielle Anderson, age 19, junior, from Gross Pointe -- were mourned and remembered at vigils across the state.
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