Big steps on the road to recovery for 2 wounded sisters

Canisha Saulter and her 12-year-old sister, Makayla, are both recovering from gunshot wounds after a late August shooting in Bloomington.

Makayla took her first steps with just a crutch on Tuesday at a Twin Cities rehab hospital, while Canisha, 29, was also able to advance in her recovery recently by no longer requiring a walker device to get around.

Hennepin County prosecutors charged 48-year-old Jason Mesich, a neighbor, in connection with the death of his wife and the shooting of the two sisters.

“We were just minding our business, never got into it with this man, for him to try and harm our family, it was crazy," Canisha said.

The two sisters were helping their family load up a moving truck when the bullets flew.

Man charged in triple shooting in Bloomington to make court appearance

“I was definitely ready to die, I was in so much pain,” said Canisha. “Just can’t be though, I was ready to be done but God had other plans.”

Canisha called her younger sister a “hero” what she did that night.

"After she got shot, she was still able to hold her (niece) — that was a good thing," Canisha said.

Makayla was still able to protect her little niece, Winter, who was in her arms at the time from the gunfire, the family said.

"She’s a hero, definitely a hero,” Canisha said. “It was an out of the blue situation.”

The support that has poured in on a fundraising page with messages of hope, Canisha said, brings their entire family comfort.

"It means a lot to me because, total strangers don’t even know us, and they see our story and from the bottom of their heart being able to donate for us it means a lot to us," Canisha said.

During physical therapy, after being released from the hospital, this mother said it’s her daughter, Winter, that is driving her to never give up on the path to recovery.

"Because I’m a mom first, she’s my motivation,” Canisha said. “Family being around helping out is motivation, it just keeps me going.”