Last survivor of sniper shootings released from hospital

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After five surgeries and more than a month in the hospital, a 37-year-old man who was wounded outside a Ponderosa restaurant during the sniper shooting spree left a Virginia hospital Wednesday.

With the man's release, all survivors of the sniper shootings are out of hospitals.

The Florida man and his wife had stopped for gas and a meal in Ashland, Virginia, north of the state capital, Richmond, on October 19, when he was shot in the abdomen.

He was taken to Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond, where doctors performed several operations to save his life.

Doctors say the man, who has asked not to be identified, should "be able to lead a fairly normal life after this," hospital spokeswoman Pam Lepley told CNN. "Really it's just going to be adjustments in eating."

That's because doctors treating his injuries had to remove 80 percent of his stomach. They also removed his spleen and half of his pancreas.

Lepley would not comment Wednesday on whether the man was headed home or to another medical facility. "The patient has asked that we not disclose the details of his discharge," she said. "The patient and his family have requested that the media and the public respect their privacy as he continues his recovery."

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