'One Tough Lady'

Alice Snodgrass wore a new T-shirt to her first doctor's visit: "This Grandma is one bad a*$!"

The specially made T-shirt epitomizes Snodgrass' spit and fire during a tremendous recovery from a tragic event that ended in two deaths and serious injuries to Snodgrass. Snodgrass was visiting a friend in Kansas City when the woman's son entered the home, killed his mother, shot Snodgrass, then turned the gun on himself.

Friend Beth Buckingham said Snodgrass is one tough lady.

"She grew up on a farm, she lost her mother at a young age," Buckingham said. "It's unbelievable what she's been through."

Snodgrass said she is a "very lucky lady," admitting she might be a "little stubborn and determined."

Despite seven open wounds, the deepest in her abdomen, Snodgrass said she has exceeded medical goals from the start. Doctors told her family that she would be in ICU for two weeks: She was out in five days.

The retired McDonald County High School librarian is doing remarkably well and regaining strength after being shot six times during a domestic dispute just two and a half months ago. She did not sustain any spinal or head injuries, and her legs are fine.

"It's not anything I can't recuperate from," she said.

"I'm OK, but the take-away is: domestic abuse reached out and grabbed me. I bought a brand new pair of glasses that morning, and he (the shooter) bought a gun that morning. I bet he bought the gun faster than I did my pair of glasses."

Tragedy in Kansas City

Snodgrass was visiting Nicki Alexopoulos when the event unfolded.

"I was part of the final act in a 30-year family tragedy," Snodgrass said.

Fellow educator Alexopoulos was Snodgrass' friend. The two had taught together. Alexopoulos was an intelligent educator who was highly dedicated to her students.

"We didn't know she was beaten at night," Snodgrass said. "She was able to function on so many different levels."

But Alexopoulos' abusive marriage took its toll. She knew she had to leave.

Her son -- the man who would later shoot Alexopoulos, Snodgrass and then himself -- was abused as a child.

The Oct. 25 incident unraveled when Alexopoulos' son stormed into the home. Snodgrass heard the gun go off inside the house. But the son hadn't cleaned the gun after purchasing it, and didn't know how to use it.

When Snodgrass heard the first shot, she thought the gun was a toy gun.

But the weapon was real.

Snodgrass was shot in her abdomen and arm. She sustained major internal injuries.

The man purchased the gun that very morning. "There's no waiting period in Missouri," she said. "He bought that gun, no questions asked."

Six hours later, two people were dead.

She anticipates lobbying with local legislators about a waiting period: "I have a vested interest."

The gnarly branches of domestic abuse reach far. They grab others and pull them in. Snodgrass said she is now a victim of domestic abuse. The neighbors who witnessed the man shooting Snodgrass on the front porch -- as she tried to get away -- are now traumatized, she said.

Alexopoulos' 96-year-old father now has to deal with the death of his only daughter.

The system failed Alexopoulos, Snodgrass said, and there has never been enough legal aid or therapy to help women, especially in rural areas. After Alexopoulos left her abusive marriage, life did not right itself immediately.

"It took several years for her to get therapy for herself and her children," she said.

Just three years earlier, Alexopoulos posted her thoughts on Facebook in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month. She mentioned names of local contacts in her hometown of Boonville, Mo., who didn't help her.

Alexopoulos left behind a journal, which her daughter, Kristen Oehlert, intends to publish to shed light on the toll domestic abuse takes and the courage behind leaving.

"We hate to see it happen to someone, but we cannot turn a blind eye," Snodgrass said. "Sometimes, we have to offer a helping hand ... or change some laws."

Outpouring of love

Snodgrass' recent Facebook post featured a funny picture with three friends and the saying, "I'm so glad friends don't come with price tags. I could never afford the wonderful friends I've got."

Friends have rallied around her to help during the recovery process. After two surgeries and numerous obstacles, Snodgrass is making much progress. She has a temporary ostomy bag, but anticipates a reconstructive surgery in April.

She has not been in pain, but is fatigued from the blood loss. "I've not even had a Tylenol in about six weeks," she said. Her temperature never climbed above 99 degrees at any point.

Quick, quality medical treatment was a critical factor.

The neighbors called the police and an EMT on the scene told Snodgrass they were within five minutes of a trauma center.

"I have had the best of care," Snodgrass said. Her local doctor, Dr. Craig Pendergrass, traveled to Kansas City to see and treat her. And St. Luke's Trauma Center provided great care.

She's also had a lot of moral support. Several of Snodgrass' classmates, whom she hadn't seen in about 25 years, visited her in Kansas City.

Former students have reached out; family, friends, neighbors and her church family also have aided Snodgrass in her recovery. Neighbors have made sure she has firewood and her church has rallied around her, Buckingham said. "The outpouring of people has been remarkable."

Buckingham checks on her daily, making breakfast for her and taking care of some chores while she's there. However, Snodgrass is very capable of more duties as she recovers.

Home health aides also have helped Snodgrass during her recovery, once visiting three different times in 18 hours.

Her neighbors, Lee and Renee Smith, and Rusty and Megan Grimes, have walked her dogs and watched her house.

"It's just amazing the support I've had," she said.

Buckingham said Snodgrass has great health insurance, but friends wanted to help her financially. Friends and family recently wrapped up a T-shirt fundraising campaign. Started by Trish Hanks with printing help from Tammy Clark, supporters were able to purchase T-shirts that boasted Snodgrass is stronger than 2Pac, taking in more bullets than the rapper did.

After all the medical bills are settled, Snodgrass may take the fundraiser money to a local women's shelter, or start a scholarship in Alexopoulos' name.

With the winter weather up and down, and viruses abounding, Snodgrass has to remain fairly secluded during her recovery.

She hopes to connect with well-wishers at some point, once she has healed a little more and built up a little more strength.

Still, her tough attitude is her biggest asset.

"I have a metal rod in my left arm, and I'll have some strength building and physical therapy," she said. "I intend to make a full recovery but I'll have a few scars."