On October 30th, I went and purchased a handgun I’d wanted for years — a 1911 manufactured by Tisas. I was drawn to it because of its classic design and safety features, including the grip safety and hammer lock.

But on November 2nd, around 4 p.m., everything changed in an instant. I was helping my wife unload groceries from the car when suddenly, BANG! I felt intense heat shoot through my leg. My wife, in shock, asked what happened — all I could say was, “I think I’ve been shot.”

As I unholstered the gun, dropped the magazine, and cleared the chamber, I realized just how serious it was. About one inch below my knee, the bullet entered my leg, struck my tibia, and traveled down to my ankle — breaking the tibia and fracturing the ankle before stopping.

After what felt like forever, EMS arrived and rushed me to Nason Hospital, where they quickly determined I needed more advanced care. I was transferred to Conemaugh and taken into surgery around 1 a.m. Doctors removed the bullet and performed a fasciotomy to relieve swelling caused by compartment syndrome.

I spent the next few days in the step-down unit before finally getting to go home. My orthopedic surgeon says I’ll be non-weight-bearing for 6–8 weeks, followed by another 4–6 weeks of recovery and physical therapy. It’s going to be a long, painful journey, but I’m doing my best to stay strong and positive for my family.

As many of you know, Josh is self-employed — which means being off his feet also means being out of work completely. I’m currently dealing with a high-risk pregnancy and caring for our 1-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter, which means I can’t work right now either.

This accident has turned our world upside down, emotionally, physically, and financially. Between medical bills, travel expenses, and day-to-day costs, things have gotten tough — but we’re doing everything we can to hold onto faith and hope.

Every bit of support — whether it’s a donation, a prayer, or simply sharing this post — means more than words can say. Your kindness helps take some of the stress off Josh so he can focus on healing, and it gives our family the strength to keep moving forward.

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for standing by us during this difficult time. 💞

With love and gratitude,

The Miller Family