Actress Shot by Birdshot: 'Miracle' Survival

Actress Christy Carlson Romano is navigating the lingering effects of a serious birdshot injury sustained last year. The incident occurred when she was participating in clay pigeon shooting during her husband Brendan Rooney's birthday celebration.

Romano was struck by birdshot from about 250 feet away, with fragments lodging under her eye and in her forehead. A critical piece of birdshot is now situated only a millimeter from her eye, presenting a constant risk of blindness if it shifts. She described the experience as thinking she was going to die.

Reflecting on the event, Romano expressed immense gratitude for her survival, deeming it a medical miracle. She shared that her oculoplastic surgeon noted that such injuries often result in more severe outcomes, even loss of an eye, especially from less powerful projectiles. The experience has profoundly impacted her perspective on life, particularly as a mother to her two daughters.

Romano first disclosed the incident in February 2025, explaining that the birdshot was discharged unsafely by another party. She recounted being hit in five places, with one fragment dangerously close to her eye. Her husband, Brendan Rooney, offered a supportive public message, praising her bravery and expressing his deep thankfulness for her presence in his life and as the mother of their children. Romano details this ordeal and her journey as a child star in her memoir, "Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star."