Columbine Survivor Gets New Shoulder Over 20 Years After Shooting
Kacey Ruegsegger Johnson almost lost her arm after the shooting at Columbine High School. Now, over 20 years later, Kacey finally got a new shoulder.
Kacey Ruegsegger Johnson was shot during the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, according to CBS4. Thankfully, Kacey survived the shooting and doctors were able to save her and her arm.
Over 20 years after the Columbine shooting, Kacey is still recovering. She recently had surgery to hopefully get rid of the pain caused by the shooting. Kacey says she was shot with a shotgun while she was trying to hide.
One of the Columbine shooters shot Kacey in the shoulder, which according to CBS4 and Kacey, 'it completely shattered the top right of my arm, and the x-ray looks like a cloud of dust.'
Kacey got surgery after the shooting and even though she had metals, screws, and donated bone in her shoulder, it wasn't completely functional. She says the pain has always been there and as of lately, it got worse. Her joint shifted since the first surgery, so bones were scraping against bone.
She recently got more surgery, a reverse shoulder replacement, and is now feeling much, much better. According to CBS4, her arm is functioning better than it has in over 20 years.
We know that Kacey will never forget about the pain or the shooting, but at least she's in less pain now. Kacey is married and is a mother of four, so she probably needs as much mobility as possible.