"We thank God for the Air Angles paramedic flight crew who watched over Lauren while she was being airlifted from Kishwaukee to Chicago, and to Lauren's doctors and nurses here at Northwestern Memorial where Lauren has received and will continue to receive outstanding care.
"We thank God for our immediate family and friends for showing us so much love and for helping us get through this horrible tragedy.
"To everyone who has been praying for Lauren's recovery around the world, please continue to reach out to her; please continue to show her your love, and please continue to keep Lauren and our family in your prayers, as Lauren begins to heal. Thank you."
Statement from Patrick McCarthy, MD, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Co-Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital; and Heller-Sacks Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine:
"Lauren was transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a result of a rare injury she sustained to a heart valve caused by a bullet that traveled close to her heart. Lauren is very fortunate however, as it did not penetrate her heart, but rather ruptured a muscle, which subsequently injured the valve and caused it to leak. At this time, Lauren is recovering well. We are preparing for an additional surgery in the weeks ahead. We expect her to make a full recovery."
Statement from Stephen Goldman, MD, trauma surgeon at Kishwaukee Community Hospital:
"Lauren was brought by EMS to Kishwaukee Community Hospital after
sustaining a gunshot wound at the NIU campus. In the ED, she was in
critical condition with hypotension, tachycardia and requiring a blood
transfusion. The entrance wound was in the right mid-abdomen and no exit
wound was identified. Lauren was taken immediately from the ED to the OR
for emergency surgery. She was found to have an injur
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