Boy Shot in Head at Ankeny Home Undergoing Therapy, Attends Benefit to Help Family

While he undergoes therapy to recover from a gunshot wound to the head, 13-year-old Michael Wells of Berwick was able to leave his Ankeny rehab center Sunday to attend a benefit in his name, according to KCCI.com.

Wells, a seventh-grader at Woodside Middle School in the Saydel school district, was shot in the head Sept. 29 at an Ankeny house when no adults were present. Wells was visiting a 13-year-old friend at a house at 6388 N.E. 22nd St. in Ankeny.

Ankeny police said there were two other juveniles at the residence at the time of the incident, a 14-year-old girl and her 13-year-old brother. These teens are being treated as witnesses, police said, and no charges have been filed.

The youth spends most of his time at the On With Life rehabilitation center in Ankeny, KCCI reported, but spent time Sunday with family and friends, and strangers who just wanted to help out.

“They say he’s paralyzed on his left side, but he’s here today, and he’s doing really good,” the teen’s mother, Tina Wells, told KCCI. “He’s talking and remembering and everything.”

According to KCCI.com:

His therapists said the teen is making a remarkable recovery.

“He’s doing great. He’s doing really well, making lots of progress. It’s really great that he is able to come celebrate with his friends and family today at his benefit,” said recreational therapist Kim Reed.

Tina Wells lost her job after her son was injured, so the benefit raised money to help the family.

“I’m very surprised at how many people showed up, and I love it. All the support for my brother, it’s amazing,” said the teen’s sister, Jessica Wells.

Reed said Michael Wells will be at the rehabilitation center for at least six more months.

“I think that the progress that Mike’s made already is kind of a good testament to how much progress he’ll continue to make,” Reed said.

But the teen’s sister said in some ways her brother is very much back to normal.

“The first thing we started doing was playing thumb war together, and then we started playing some games together and we talk. He’s on his Facebook and cellphone, and it’s really nice,” Jessica Wells said.