Former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano is counting her blessings after she claimed she was accidentally shot in the face while shooting clay pigeons with her husband.
On Sunday, Romano took to Instagram to recount the horrific ordeal in a video, starting with, “So I got shot in the eye. It was not fun."
The 40-year-old showed the injured eye and pointed to areas of her face where the lead fragments from the shot were still embedded.
"Yesterday was my husband’s birthday and I took him to shoot clay pigeons as a present," she said, revealing the injured eye.
She explained:
"There was another party with us and they unsafely fired in the wrong direction and shot me in the face."
Romano assured fans she was safe and thanked her husband, Brendan Rooney, and first responders who "immediately sprung into action" and rushed her to the hospital.
"I was hit in 5 places, one was less than an inch from hitting me directly in my right eye," she said, adding that a fragment lodged behind her eye was "too risky to remove surgically at this time."
Romano noted she could still "see normally at this moment" and that doctors will continue to monitor her.
Despite the scary incident, she said she was "grateful" to be alive.
Fans and industry colleagues were relieved to hear she was okay, and they continued wishing her a speedy recovery.
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
In a follow-up post, Romano reminded people to be safe during the Super Bowl festivities on Sunday.
“I want to thank those of you who have been supportive. I’m feeling the love and I’m sending it back. This has been scary and your positivity is meaningful to my healing.”
She continued:
"Tomorrow is a big day of celebrations for everyone. Be safe while celebrating. And tell those close to you you love them for me.”
In the comments section, Rooney called his wife the “bravest, toughest, most stoic and bada** woman I have ever met.”
He added:
“I am so thankful you are alive. I am so thankful you are the mother to our children."
“I wouldn’t know what to do without you. I love you more than life itself.”
@thechristycarlsonromano/Instagram
Romano was a child actor who began her career at 6 in national Broadway tours. She made her Broadway debut in 1998 playing Mary Phagan in Jason Robert Brown's musical Parade.
She is best known for her work on Disney shows, including playing Ren Stevens on Even Stevens and voicing the titular character in Kim Possible.
In February 2011 while studying at at Barnard College, she met Rooney, who was a writer-producer. They got engaged in November.
After two years of engagement, the couple tied the knot on December 31, 2013, at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta.
They have two daughters, Isabella Victoria, born December 24, 2016, and Sophia Elizabeth, born February 18, 2019.
"I love my daughters, husband, family, and friends so much," she said in the caption and shared an important reminder given the unpredictable nature of life.
"I saw my life flash before my eyes and I’m telling you, hug the people around you every chance you can."
"Life can change in an instant," she concluded.
