Before the 4th of July, Cooper Roberts was an active kid who was always running around. He loved playing sports – including football, baseball and American football – as well as riding his bike, his family remembers.
Life has looked very different since the 8-year-old was shot in the Highland Park shooting on July 4 and left him paraplegic. Seven people died and dozens were injured after attacks by a sniper who fired from a roof into the crowd.
“There are layers and layers of cruelty to being shot by a sniper. Most people don’t witness the grueling consequences of surviving these devastating wounds,” Cooper’s family said in a health update Tuesday.
“He is an 8-year-old boy who feels hopeless, sad and angry about the new reality of his life.”
Hoping to show what this new reality looks like, Cooper’s family provides regular updates on the child’s condition in the weeks following the attack, including the numerous surgeries he underwent as doctors worked to repair injured organs and prevent infections.
Earlier this month, Cooper was transferred to a rehabilitation unit after nearly a month in pediatric intensive care, a family spokesperson previously reported.
The child is still in “constant pain” from internal wounds that take time to heal, adds Tuesday’s update.
“He is on a constant IV drip of antibiotics to ward off infections, has swelling that obscures the full internal picture, and has stomach pains as his body relearns how to process, especially liquid foods. He continues to take heavy painkillers,” he continues.
Cooper was recently cleared to start eating some solid foods, his family said, but he feels “full and nauseous” after just a bite or two.
“He (is) beginning to recognize the seriousness of his limitations as he participates in rigorous daily physical and occupational therapy, maneuvering around two ports, a (catheter) line and three tubes coming out of his body.”
And the emotional cost is just as heavy: Cooper misses his home and his family, who he can only see briefly once a week because of Covid-19 rules, and begins to look forward to when he can join his brother. twin in third grade – which could still be weeks away.
“It’s very difficult to convince Cooper that he will be happy again,” the family said. “Of course, we are very grateful for his survival, and we know that others have not been so lucky, but we want people to know that their path/our path will be very long and difficult.”
A verified campaign from GoFundMe was created in support of the family.
Source: CNN Brasil
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