Central Oregon Strong: Young Silver Rail survivor’s grateful family overwhelmed by cards and gifts, asks for a pause

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- The tremendous public outpouring of love and support for the recovering 7-year-old survivor of the Silver Rail shooting has been so strong – well beyond dollars – that her thankful mother is asking that people pause sending any more gifts and cards. 

"As of right now, it's going to take us forever to read and open all the lovely things you all gave her!" Danielle Graham, mother of Saylor Graham-Poarch, said in Monday's update, posted to a GoFundMe fundraising page. 

"For now, we ask that (you) hold off on sending any more items," she wrote, "so we can get our lives to a place we can open and enjoy them all! Thank you everyone!" 

There are actually two donation pages for the little girl, the other started by a business partner of the family. Together, they have raised more than $1.1 million for Saylor, whose mother recently posted a photo of the girl's hands, holding a stuffed pony in her hands. 

So far, the 11 verified GoFundMe pages related to the Silver Rail shooting have raised close to $2.1 million, including nearly $464,0000 for Kaylub Giamanco, the Silver Rail parent who pursued the 16-year-old gunman into the school and fatally shot him to stop the attack. 

The GoFundMe page organizer said in an update Tuesday that the Giamanco family is "so thankful for all the kind words" and that "they were able to get out of town as a family and begin their healing journey." 

Specific thanks were offered to Chevy of Bend for loaning Kaylub a vehicle after his truck broke down. They also thanked three local hotels – Residence Inn, Element and Best Western Peppertree – for providing a safe place for the family that also enable them to avoid the large number of media that were at their home.