Triumph through Tragedy

by Ann E. Butenas

From patient to advocate, Tyra Randle’s journey at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital paved her path to Ms. Wheelchair Missouri 2024.

On January 15, 2020, in a split second that would forever change her life, Tyra Randle faced the unthinkable. Shot eight times by her son’s father in her own home, with her six-week-old baby just inches away and her 11-year-old daughter in the next room, Tyra’s world shattered. Yet from that darkest moment emerged a story of extraordinary resilience, determination, and triumph that would eventually lead her to become Ms. Wheelchair Missouri 2024 and third runner-up for Ms. Wheelchair America 2025.

The shooting occurred after Tyra’s ex-partner, from whom she had separated, broke into her home demanding to know where their son was. Despite their breakup, he had continued stalking her relentlessly. When Tyra went to check on her baby in the bedroom, he grabbed her phone and opened fire with a .45 caliber weapon, striking her in the back, arm, underarms, and chest, with one bullet nicking her chin. Remarkably, her training as a Certified Nursing Assistant kicked in immediately. She remained calm, alert, and applied pressure to her wounds while her daughter called for help.

After 15 days in the hospital with no surgery required, Tyra began the next chapter of her recovery journey at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas with T-11 and T-12 incomplete spinal cord injuries.

“They are the best,” Tyra says of her therapy team at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital, specifically praising Melissa, her occupational therapist, and Hannah, her physical therapist. Determined to maximize her recovery, Tyra committed fully to her rehabilitation program, completing three hours of therapy each morning. This schedule allowed her to spend afternoons with friends and family, creating precious bonding time with her newborn son as she adapted to motherhood with her new physical reality.

From late January through early March 2020, ironically being discharged the very day COVID-19 emerged as a major concern in the United States, Tyra embraced every aspect of her rehabilitation. Her experience at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital was so positive that she admits she didn’t want to leave.

“It was such a great experience,” she reflected, highlighting the comprehensive care and supportive environment that helped lay the foundation for her remarkable recovery.

The impact of her time at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital extended far beyond physical rehabilitation. The confidence and skills she developed there enabled her to return to work just six months after the shooting, taking a position as a floating unit secretary at the hospital where she previously worked as a CNA. While she had been pursuing her RN degree before the incident, Tyra has since pivoted toward potentially earning a law degree to advocate for domestic violence victims or possibly running for city council.

Her advocacy work began taking shape through her organization, Diamonds in the Rough – KC, which supports others facing similar challenges. Tyra has also expanded into modeling and acting, appearing in commercials for T-Mobile and JCPenney, while engaging in numerous speaking engagements where she shares her powerful testimony of survival and triumph.

The Ms. Wheelchair America and its sister competitions represent far more than a traditional pageant. Unlike beauty contests, it focuses on advocacy, achievement, communication, and presentation skills to select the most accomplished spokeswoman for the more than 64 million Americans living with disabilities. The organization’s mission emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion while working to dismantle barriers that obstruct the potential of individuals with disabilities.

“Being named Ms. Wheelchair Missouri 2024 was an honor,” Tyra reflects. Her path to the title involved running as an independent delegate, writing a compelling essay about her motivations, and providing three letters of recommendation. At the national level, she endured three days of judging, including a speech night focused on her advocacy platform and extensive questioning from judges. Her third-place finish at Ms. Wheelchair America 2025 demonstrated her exceptional communication skills and dedication to disability advocacy.

Today, Tyra serves as a coordinator for Ms. Wheelchair Missouri while continuing her extensive volunteer work. She donates time to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, serves as a peer mentor and advisor for the United Spinal Cord Association, and works as an ambassador for Spinergy Wheels and an influencer for EasyStand. She also collaborates with longtime friend Wesley Hamilton, also a victim of gunshot wounds, and his organization Disabled But Not Really, supporting others who have sustained life-changing spinal cord injuries.

Despite ongoing pain from her injuries, Tyra maintains an unwavering positive outlook.

“There are a lot of doors opening for me now,” she said, emphasizing that “success is the best revenge” and declaring firmly, “I am not going to let him win.” Her children see her as someone who can accomplish anything, with her now five-year-old son often encouraging her by saying, “If you can’t do it, Mommy, use your imagination.”

Tyra’s philosophy centers on the belief that “there is no testimony without a test.” Her journey from a shooting victim to a nationally recognized advocate demonstrates the transformative power of quality rehabilitation care, personal determination, and supportive environments like MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital. Her story serves as an inspiration to countless others facing seemingly impossible circumstances, proving that with the right support system and unwavering determination, triumph can emerge from even the darkest tragedy.

For more information about rehabilitation services at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital, visit their website at encompasshealth.com or call their Overland Park location at 913.491.2400.