Cassidy Stay, the 15-year-old girl who survived being shot by her uncle in an attack that left her parents and four younger siblings dead, said Saturday that she was on the road to recovery.

Cassidy Stay was speaking to a crowd at an elementary school in her hometown of Spring. It was her first public appearance since the shootings.

Stay was released from the hospital Friday, two days after the attack by her aunt’s ex-husband, Ronald Lee Haskell.

People attending the ceremony released hundreds of balloons and tied ribbons of different colors to trees in remembrance of the family.

The sole survivor of the family slaying in Texas on July 9, Cassidy Stay, has shown immense strength in dealing with the horrific tragedy.

On Wednesday, July 9 in Houston, Texas, Cassidy Stay’s actions took her from shooting survivor to heroic teenager in a matter of minutes.

The teen played dead after being shot in the head by her ex-uncle, a move that ultimately saved not just her life, but also the lives of others. Cassidy suffered a fractured skull when a bullet grazed her head.

Even though her entire immediate family was shot dead, including her 4 younger brothers and sisters, ages ranging from 4 to 13, Cassidy bravely survived being shot in the head. She somehow found the strength to alert authorities about her estranged uncle, Ronald Lee Haskell, who committed the heinous crime.

Her ex-uncle forced his way into the home by posing as a FedEx delivery man. He kept Cassidy and her four younger siblings hostage until their unsuspecting parents, Katie and Stephen Stay, returned home from work. Ron shot all 7 members of the Stay family in the back of their heads.

Cassidy believed Ron was headed to her grandparent’s home next. It has since been reported that Ron was demanded the location of his ex-wife, Melanie Lyon, who was Cassidy’s aunt, her mom’s sister.

Because of Cassidy’s heroic actions, police tracked down Ron and chased him in his vehicle for 25 minutes before cornering him in a residential cul de sac.

At the memorial service, she threw up a “rock on” hand signal and paraphrased JK Rowling’s Albus Dumbledore to remind attendees that darkness makes way for light.