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if it wasn't for Chris Smith's terrier beagle mix named Tiki he might have died Chris was shot in the head on
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Thanksgiving in 2021 and survived despite laying on the kitchen floor for 12 hours in a pool of blood Chris says
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an EMT who arrived on scene said Tiki may have cuddled up against him to keep his body warm all night I think Tiki
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protected Chris I think she probably laid right next to him the first time Chris regained Consciousness was in
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early January 2022 a about 2 months after the shooting Chris had no memory of that night at all nor the woman he
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was having a first date with Leslie Reeves I said who' heck Leslie I don't know Leslie you had no idea no nothing
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nothing nothing he had been shot by Leslie's jealous ex-boyfriend for Chris's mother the fact that her son is
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still alive is a miracle I thank my blessings daily that he's here with us after intense Physical Therapy he's made
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incredible strides he's now much stronger but Chris is aware that his life is very different from what it once
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was tough doesn't even describe it doesn't can describe it and then my left leg is uh partially paralyzed from my
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hip to my knee then from my knee to my toes completely paralyzed Chris also lives with part of the hollow point
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bullet in his brain doctors say it's in a spot that makes it too dangerous to remove so that's where you got shot yep
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right here there's a yep you still feel it on my skull right there but he refuses to give up
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Mark reardan says his friend is still the same person he's always been I think at the core he's still the same guy that
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I knew he's still the smartass he's still the guy that's going to talk about how good he is and how good he was and
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how much he could lift weights Chris works out at the gym most mornings trying to regain muscle and the
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hopes that he will one day be able to walk without assistance he's even back to being the lead singer in his rock and
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roll band even though Chris no longer lives with Tiki he still visits his loyal dog who was there through his long
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recovery I'm many people get a second chance in life in with that second chance in life he met Michelle albrech
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nearly two years after Chris survived the attack they had their first date he told 48 Hours her Cobalt deep blue eyes
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had me at hello she's an angel loving me and accepting me the way that I am he proposed to her on stage I just ask if
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she married me guys what's the most important lesson out of all of this don't ever give up on
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anything ever no matter how bad things are don't ever give up