LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (KCTV) -
Saturday is about Alyssa Howe.
"It means a lot to me that everyone wants to help me out and support me with the medical bills and everything," the recovering gunshot victim said.
It's been six months since Howe, now 14, was accidentally shot in the head. She spent 72 hours in a coma after surgery. For 72 hours, her mother, Amy Howe, didn't know if her daughter would live or die.
"God had a hand in this. She came out of this. It is a true miracle," Amy Howe said.
But even miracles can get expensive. Alyssa's medical bills have started to come in. She's been through months of therapy. Friends and family wanted to help. Saturday's Alyssa Howe fundraiser featured breakfast, lunch, a bake sale and a charity bike ride.
"This has been months in the making. We've been planning this for a while with lots of support from friends and family," Amy Howe said. "We had all the food donated, all the food of course. The VFW donated the building all day. The Ladies Auxiliary is actually cooking all the food and doing a great job."
Alyssa was spending eight hours a day in rehabilitation, where a teacher works with her on keeping up with school, but the recovery is ongoing.
"It's a little harder. I can't hear out of this ear. I have to be a lot more careful since I don't have a skull piece right here. It's getting easier," she said.
Alyssa's having surgery Thursday to replace that part of her skull with a prosthetic.
"She's very inspiring, a true miracle. All of the positive attitude and all the hard work she's put in to helping herself get better, even the therapists tell me they're so proud of her because she puts in 110 percent every day," Amy said.
For all of the help over the last six months Alyssa has words of gratitude.
"Thank you, it means a lot for their support," she said.
The Alyssa Howe fundraiser continues Saturday evening at the Lee's Summit VFW with live music and a BBQ dinner.
Alyssa finished rehabilitation, graduated from middle school, and will move on to Lee's Summit North High School this fall as a Freshman.
To follow Alyssa's recovering, check in on the Facebook page created for her.
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