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Family of Fort Hood Victim Holds On to Hope

"I know he's going to make it because he's way tougher than that."
Image: The media and Public Affairs military personnel wait for a press conference to be held outside the Bernie Beck Gate
The media and Public Affairs military personnel wait for a press conference to be held outside the Bernie Beck Gate after multiple people were killed and others injured when a shooter opened fire at Fort Hood, Texas, on April 2, 2014. Erin Trieb / for NBC News

The family of a New York man who is among the 16 people injured in Wednesday's shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, said their son and brother is strong and will recover from his gunshot wound.

"I know he's going to make it because he's way tougher than that," said Tim Miller, brother of Patrick Miller, an active duty Army Major, stationed at Fort Hood.

According to his family, Patrick Miller, a 32-year-old Iraq War veteran, was shot in the stomach and underwent surgery Wednesday night.

Miller's mother, Carol, described the whirlwind of emotion upon hearing the news Wednesday evening.

"I wanted to sit down all of a sudden. It was like, 'Oh my God!'" Carol Miller said.

An Iraq war vet Wednesday unleashed the rampage that killed three colleagues and wounded 16 others on the base.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the shooting has left Miller's home state "saddened and shocked."

"Among those injured is Maj. Patrick Miller, from Allegany County, who joined the U.S. Army after graduating from St. Bonaventure in 2003," Cuomo said in a statement. "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I send my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery to the injured victims and their families."

Three of the wounded were still fighting for their lives in the intensive care unit of a nearby civilian hospital, doctors said early Thursday.

Five patients have been discharged from the hospital.

— Becky Bratu and SueAnn Williams