Cooper Roberts, an 8-year-old kid who was shot and paralysed during the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade tragedy, is in continual agony as he slowly makes a physical and emotional recovery, according to his family.
In a statement released by Cooper’s family on Tuesday afternoon, they added, “It is extremely difficult to persuade Cooper that he will be happy again.”
“Of course, we are eternally thankful for his survival, and we are aware that others were not as lucky, but we want people to be aware that his/our journey will be one that is extremely difficult and lengthy.
The eight-year-old youngster feels helpless, depressed, and angry as the truth of his situation begins to sink in.”
The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is where Cooper is recuperating after being discharged from the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital two weeks ago.
There, he is receiving rigorous daily physical and occupational therapy while also learning to manage moving around three tubes coming out of his body, two ports, and a PICC line, according to his family.
“Cooper is in agony all the time. To see it is painful. He still has inside wounds that are taking a while to heal.
He has swelling that makes it difficult to see anything inside, is continuously receiving antibiotics through IV, and has stomach discomfort while his body retrains itself to handle mostly liquid meals. He continues to take large doses of medications, which he is weaning this week “explained his family.
Cooper’s family reports that despite being given the all-clear to resume eating solid food, his liquid diet via a feeding tube often leaves him feeling too full to enjoy even some of his favourite dishes, allowing him to take just a few bites before becoming nauseated and sluggish.
Due to continuing COVID-19 safety regulations, he can only spend a brief amount of time with his complete family once a week.
“His twin brother Luke is someone he misses terribly. Though it will be many weeks before he returns to school, he already misses his family, house, room, toys, friends, dog, and school. He is starting to ask questions such, “What will I do at recess?” “said his family.
According to Cooper’s family, he will probably be in treatment for six to twelve weeks. He will then re-join his twin brother Luke in Highland Park’s third grade after that.
Cooper received a back shot, and the bullet left his body via his chest. His mother, Keely Roberts, said in late July that the bullet “caused considerable damage throughout his body, including to his aorta, liver, oesophagus, and spinal cord.”
She too had been shot. She claimed to have undergone many foot surgeries as well as gunshot wounds to two different regions of her leg. According to her, the wounds need continuing orthopaedic care.
Luke, Cooper’s sibling, was only slightly physically hurt, but the mental trauma has been terrible on its own, according to Roberts.
Luke and Cooper both get private mental health and therapy treatments. Cooper has memories that keep him awake at night, along with other ptsd symptoms.
Being shot by a sniper has “layers upon layers of brutality,” Cooper’s family stated. “Most people don’t see the horrifying repercussions of enduring these physically and emotionally terrible wounds.
Cooper receives continual support and inspiration from us as we look for the bright side and hold onto optimism, but we also want others to understand the raw truth of his or our new life.”
Nevertheless, his family said that as he heals, “any kindness makes him grin.”
His family expressed their gratitude for the gifts, cards, prayers, and money, saying that they will “help carry us all through this very gloomy moment.”
A GoFundMe established to assist Cooper’s family with his medical costs has already received more than $1.7 million.
In the July assault, seven individuals lost their lives and several more suffered injuries.
Since then, the assault suspect has been accused of more than 100 felonies, including attempted murder and murder. Despite previously confessing to the assault, he entered a not guilty plea earlier this month, according to the police.