Matthew Silverstone turned 18 on Sept. 9. A day later, he was critically injured in an Evergreen High School shooting that shocked the region.

Media coverage has focused on the suspect — 16-year-old Desmond Holly. So, the victim’s family decided to let the public know how kind, courageous and supportive Silverstone was.

“He’s not just the critically injured victim. There’s so much more to Matthew than that. So much life, so much love,” Kris Koehler, Silverstone’s uncle, said in an interview with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The shooting began around 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 when Holly allegedly entered the school with a revolver and fired 20 rounds, injuring Silverstone and another unnamed student before taking his own life.

All three were taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood in critical condition.

While details surrounding the shooting are still hazy amidst investigations, Koehler and letters from students spoke of Silverstone’s courage during the incident, taking charge after lunch to make sure everyone got away from the shooting.

“I cannot thank you enough for getting them out of there. You’re truly a hero and such a kind person,” one student said in a letter to Silverstone.

Another student thanked Silverstone for his quick thinking and action during the shooting.

Koehler added that Silverstone has always been quick to be protective and courteous to others, adding that he is just a normal kid that spends all of his days with his friends and at the local skatepark.

He was adopted out of foster care by his mother, Paige, when he was 6 months old. Paige is a single mother of three, all adopted out of foster care.

“She just has so much love to share with everybody. Matthew really has absorbed that,” Koehler said.

Paige is taking it the worst, blaming herself for not being there to protect her son, he said.

But Matthew Silverstone is still fighting.

“Every day we have glimmers of hope. We take every baby step in the right directions and celebrate it,” Koehler said.

“All of us are heartbroken by what happened, but we are also deeply grateful that Matthew survived,” the family said in a public statement. “Doctors have let us know that Matthew will likely require lifelong, full-time care.”

A personal GoFundMe account started by Silverstone’s family has already raised over $135,000 in three days.

The status of the other shooting victim is still unknown.

“Matthew is not only my nephew, but he’s now my hero,” Koehler said.