GREENSBORO, N.C. — 8-year-old Aacuria Hinton's family is clinging on to prayer, hope and faith while she recovers in the hospital.
"Her energy and time need to be focused on her healing," her father, Michael Hinton said.
It's been three weeks since she was shot. A bullet hit her in the mouth while she slept in bed. The bullet went through her house.
Greensboro Police are still searching for a suspect.
"Unfortunately, we can't change what happened," Hinton said.
While police are investigating, her family has not left her side in the hospital.
Hinton tells News 2 her journey has had ups and downs.
"The surgery that they did on Sunday wasn't a success as we hoped it was. The skin graph wasn't maintaining enough blood flow from the jaw and the muscles in the jaw," Hinton said. "They put a rod in her face to keep the mandolin bone from decaying or not being healthy, so when they go and do the surgery again in a few months it will be healthy enough to hold."
Aacuria is making progress despite the challenges.
"The healing from the stitches and scars have healed up nicely. The tongue has healed pretty extensively," Hinton said.
She's even been up dancing to music, reminding her father of her glowing personality.
"It made people smile and made people feel a sense that she's good. People are supporting her, and they love her, even the hospital staff. A few came in here dancing and enjoying all her time and that's what I love," Hinton said.
He said it's still difficult for his daughter to speak clearly.
They plan to get her involved in speech therapy to help.
