Last NIU victim out of hospital

Lauren Debrauwere has closed the first chapter of her recovery from the Feb. 14 shooting that claimed the life of her boyfriend and four other students at Northern Illinois University.

The 19-year-old was the last NIU shooting victim to be released from a hospital when she was discharged Tuesday from Northwestern Memorial in Chicago.

The Sigma Kappa sorority sister from Lake Barrington initially was in serious condition after she was shot in the hip and the abdomen.

Debrauwere's boyfriend, 20-year-old sophomore Dan Parmenter from Westchester, was killed in the attack on the Geology 104 class in which Debrauwere and Parmenter were both enrolled.

Parmenter's family has said that when the shooting began, the two dropped to the floor and Parmenter grabbed his girlfriend's hands and began to pray.

At a Tuesday news conference held at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Debrauwere's family said Lauren is doing well and "expected to recover."

"Lauren's recovery has been very difficult and, at times, unbearable for her both mentally and physically," said Brittany Debrauwere, Lauren's sister.

"She has a tough road ahead of her, but we are humbled and very grateful that we have her with us today, as our hearts are heavy and our prayers go out to the five families who lost their loved ones."

Brittany, speaking for the family, thanked doctors, paramedics and God for enabling her sister to finally leave the hospital.

One bullet entered Debrauwere's abdomen, hit her liver and colon and ended its path lodged in her left chest.

That bullet still is lodged near her heart.

"At this time, Lauren is recovering well. We are preparing for an additional surgery in the weeks ahead," said Patrick McCarthy, chief of cardiothoracic surgery. "We expect her to make a full recovery."

Lauren's mother, Mary, and stepfather, Steve, were also at the news conference. Lauren, the only NIU shooting victim who was treated at Northwestern, was not in attendance.