LITTLETON, Colo. -- Nearly 10 weeks after the world watched his bullet-bloodied body tumble from a window at Columbine High School, survivor Pat Ireland limped out of the hospital Friday in a new pair of sneakers.
Standing with one crutch, a leg brace and a baseball cap covering evidence of the bullet wounds that nearly took his life, the 17-year-old Ireland told reporters he was eager to get on with the healing process -- at home."It's really exciting that I've made it this far, and going home is just the next step," he said. "I'm doing good."
Ireland was one of the most critically wounded victims of the April 20 school massacre. He was shot once in the foot and twice in the head. One bullet grazed his scalp, but another lodged into his brain, causing severe trauma that has left him partially paralyzed on his right side.
Ireland escaped from the school by tumbling out of a library window and into the arms of the police, a rescue caught on live television.
Meanwhile Friday, plans were announced to distribute the $3.8 million "Healing Fund." Lump-sum payments will made to the families of wounded students, including Ireland, to help pay for medical costs.
Though his son's bills will continue to grow, John Ireland said the payment is a good beginning.
"It's a good start to the rehabilitation process for each one of these kids here, and obviously there's going to be more and more needed all the time," he said.
Pat Ireland faces months of therapy in addition to the hundreds of hours he has already spent working with physical and speech therapists.
When Ireland began therapy, he had difficulty with movement tasks because of the partial paralysis on his right side. He had to relearn how to eat, dress himself and walk.
The teen's doctor, Dr. Alan Weintraub, described Ireland's recovery as "impressive" though expected. "For Pat, his goal is full recovery," Weintraub said. "Might it be different? We just don't know. It's too early."
Ireland says he intends to join his fellow classmates at Columbine when the school year begins in August. He also hopes to be back on water skis -- one of his passions -- by next summer.
"Not being able to get out to the lake and water ski, that's been the biggest disappointment up to this point," he said.
In all, 25 people were wounded and 13 killed by two teen gunmen who took their school by storm before turning their guns on themselves.
Since the attack, donations have poured in from around the world, and several funds have been established to help pay for victim and community needs.
The Healing Fund, initiated by Mile High United Way, grew to $3.8 million, and an advisory committee was formed to decide how to best spend the money.
The largest portion -- $1.46 million -- will be paid in lump sums to victims.
Of that money, payments of $150,000 will be made to the families of each of the four students with brain and spinal chord injuries, $50,000 will be paid to families of the deceased and $10,000 will be allotted to 21 other physically injured students.
Another $1.1 million will be used for outreach and direct services to the more than 2,000 victims at the school and in the community.
Community programs will receive about $500,000. The final $740,000 will be spent on the unanticipated needs of victims such as additional medical costs.