“The bravest little girl I have ever seen”

“That's the other part of the medicine she needed. We had so many good friends with us,” Doug said. “They take her mind off things.”

After being released from the hospital, Natalie's parents say she wants to return to Apalachee to finish the school year.

“I asked her, 'Natalie, do you want to change schools? We can probably change schools, sweetie.' And she said, 'No, no, mommy. I want to go back to school. I want to go back to the band. I want to live my normal life again.' She is the bravest little girl I have ever seen,” said Natalie's mother, Marilda Griffith.

The Griffiths hope that after this tragedy something will change to ensure the safety of children at school.

“No parent should have to go through this. They have to change this. You know, our country has to be safe for our children,” Marilda said.

They also say Natalie's teacher held her during the shooting and kept the children together. They called her a hero.