BUCYRUS — This Thanksgiving, Lindsey Atwood, her mom Kathleen Fritz and the rest of their family have a lot to be thankful for.

Atwood was the victim of a random shooter in October while walking down a city street in Wichita, Kansas, where she has resided during the past seven years.

“I had been using drugs and went to Kansas to get away from all of it,” Atwood said. “I was engaged for a while and was not using but that relationship broke up and I began using again. I was on the street and went every week to a church service that offered breakfast afterward. I was walking with a man I know to the church when this man neither of us knew came around the corner and just began firing a gun.”

She doesn’t remember much after a bullet pierced through her body, severing her colon and damaging vital organs, including a large vein in her leg.

“The bullet ricocheted inside her boy and damaged her colon, her bowels and the vein to her (right) leg,” Fritz said.

The 33-year-old died twice while EMS personnel worked diligently to bring her back.

“They even cut under my breasts to be able to manually massage my heart to keep it beating until we made it to the hospital,” Atwood said.

Fritz was at her apartment in Bucyrus when Atwood’s dad contacted her about the shooting.

“I was so scared and all I wanted to do was get to my daughter,” Fritz said. “I am on disability and did not have the money for a plane ticket to Kansas.”

Fritz turned to her closest friends, including Vicki Roll and Nikki Gearhart, who sprang into action to help their friend.

“Nikki started a fundraiser at the Wren’s Nest where she works and my daughter, Ashley, started a Go-Fund Me online,” Fritz said.

Fritz paced the floor of her living room, crying, and trying to formulate a plan to get to her daughter’s bedside.

“Vicki was right here with me and my brother too,” Fritz said.

Within hours, the Bucyrus community came through for Fritz.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I found out about the shooting on Sunday afternoon and by Tuesday morning. I was on a plane because of the generosity and support of people in our community. I cannot thank everyone enough. We truly live in a caring place.”

Fritz learned the extent of her daughter’s injuries after arriving at the hospital.

“The staff was absolutely wonderful with her and kept me informed of every step along the way,” Fritz said.

Atwood underwent eight surgeries during the next week to repair the extensive damage done by the bullet that entered through her back before exploding.

“It seemed like every day they were taking her in for another surgery,” Fritz said.

Fritz came back to Bucyrus and drove with her boyfriend back to Kansas to bring Atwood home to Bucyrus for her recovery after spending weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation unit.

Her friend who was walking with her was shot five times in his legs. His injuries were serious but not life-threatening.

“He was in ICU for a few days and had one or two surgeries on his legs,” Atwood said.

The suspect, Dexter Solomon, called 911 and the news media to tell about his role in the shooting.

“They said he did not seem to be all there,” Atwood said. “He has mental illness and they think he was on meth at the time. He is in jail awaiting trial and I may have to go back to Kansas to testify.”

Fritz said if that happens, she is hoping to once again be by her daughter’s side.

“She has nightmares and can’t sleep due to post traumatic stress disorder from the shooting. It will be hard for her to go back alone,” Fritz said.

Atwood said the doctors told her she may never walk again due to the damage to her leg, but she has proved them wrong.

“I can walk but have trouble lifting my leg up into bed or to get into a vehicle,” Atwood said. “They said I have compartment syndrome due to a vein they had to remove from my leg.”

Fritz said her doctor Barbara Wickham in Galion took Atwood as a patient.

“She also donated towards my plane ticket,” Fritz said. “She has been amazing through all of this.”

Atwood is going to therapy and working on her goals.

“I am applying for SSI but while I am sitting here, working towards getting better, I am going to go back to school online,” said Atwood, who aspires to become an interior decorator. “God let me live for a reason, so I am going to do something with my life.”