Feb 18, 2008 6:41 pm US/Central
NIU Shooting Victim Leaves Hospital For Home
Samantha Dehner's Family Feels Lucky To Be Bringing Her Home After Tragic Shooting Deaths Of Her Classmates
An NIU shooting survivor left the hospital Monday with her father. He promises she will return to the DeKalb campus.
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports Samantha Dehner appeared at a hospital news conference but was too emotional to talk, but we're told she's headed to a very joyous homecoming.
On the day that also saw services for two of the students who were killed in the attack, 20-year-old Samantha Dehner was discharged from Kishwaukee Hospital, sent home with her parents to her hometown of Carol Stream.
"We understand the losses that some other people are going through so we consider ourselves lucky that we are able to take ours home today," said Samantha's father, Robert Dehner. "A couple of people who didn't make it were good friends of hers."
Samantha Dehner did not speak to reporters Monday. She's anguished and she suffered a bullet wound to her leg as well as her elbow where a nerve was badly damaged.
"As far as the nerve, it's going to be a long recovery period months to years," said surgeon Dr. Rajeev Jain.
The campus at NIU was still quiet Monday. The faculty won't be back until Tuesday and students are due back a week from Tuesday. Samantha Dehner won't be among the returning students -- not just yet
"She's pretty tough. I think she'll go back," Robert Dehner said. "She might have to finish the semester at the house but starting in the fall she'll be at the sorority house."
Because the students who do return next Tuesday are likely to be uneasy, there will be a heightened police presence on the NIU campus.
