Shooting survivor defies the odds after being shot in the brain

Leslie Reeves And Chris Smith were shot during their first date. Only Smith survived. Take a look at how he defied the odds and recovered.

Crime scene

Exterior of Chris Smith's home in Farmersville, Illinois. / Photo: Illinois State Police. — Exterior of Chris Smith’s home in Farmersville, Illinois. / Photo: Illinois State Police.

The night before Thanksgiving 2021, Smith went on his first date with a woman named Leslie Reeves. The next morning, first responders found Smith in his Farmersville, Illinois, home with a bullet lodged in his brain. Reeves was dead.

Shot victim in coma

Chris Smith was placed in a medically induced coma following brain surgery. / Credit: Chris Smith

Paramedics rushed Smith to the hospital, where he underwent brain surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma.

Bullet stuck in his brain

X-ray shows a bullet fragment in Chris Smith's brain. / Credit: Chris Smith — X-ray shows a bullet fragment in Chris Smith’s brain. / Credit: Chris Smith

Fragments of the bullet remained in Smith’s brain. His doctors say removing the bullet could cause further damage.

Family support

Sharon Costanza with her son Chris Smith during his hospitalization. / Credit: Chris Smith

Smith’s mother Sharon Costanza and sister Ashley Holcomb sat by his side during his recovery. Doctors told them the chances of Smith returning to his previous level of functioning were very low.

No memory

In January 2022, Smith woke up from his coma and asked where he was and what happened. He didn’t remember anything from the night of the shooting. He did not remember his date with Reeves, although he spoke with her on the phone and corresponded two weeks before the shooting.

Bad prognosis

Dr. Victor Williams, Chris Smith's neurosurgeon, speaks with — Dr. Victor Williams, Chris Smith’s neurosurgeon, speaks with

Because of Smith’s injuries, his neurosurgeon, Dr. Victor Williams, told Smith that he would likely not be able to walk again. Williams and his team did everything they could to help Chris recover.

Life changed forever

Smith’s left leg is partially paralyzed from the hip to the knee. From the knee to the toes he is completely paralyzed. After he left the hospital, he had to return to his mother.

Taking back your strength

After intensive physical therapy, Chris Smith made incredible progress. He is much stronger than when he woke up from his coma, but finds that there are gaps in his memory. Photo: CBS News.

Smith spends most of his time going to the gym and working on regaining his strength so that he can one day walk without assistance.

Survivor

Smith says he’s determined to hold on tightly to his new life. He’s singing with his rock band again. And he proposed to his fiancee Michelle Albrecht.

New aspirations

Chris Smith is back as the lead singer of his rock band. /Credit: CBS News

“Smith hopes to become a motivational speaker and has his own website.

Miracle recovery

Smith’s mother says his recovery is nothing short of a miracle.

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