Cooper Roberts, 8-year-old Highland Park shooting victim, still in constant pain
Chicago (CBS) -- Cooper Roberts, an 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed after being shot in the 4th of July parade massacre, is in constant pain. As he is slowly recovering physically and emotionally,his family said.
"Cooper will be happy again." Of course I'm not grateful he survived, and I know other people weren't so lucky, but I want people to know his path. I want it." / Our road will be a very long and hard one. He is an eight-year-old boy, desperate, sad and angry as the realities of his life begin.
Cooper was discharged from the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital two weeks ago and is currently recovering at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. There he undergoes rigorous physical and occupational therapy every day while learning how to maneuver around three tubes. According to his family, it comes out of his body, two ports, and his PICC line.
"Cooper is in constant pain. It's painful to watch. He still has internal injuries – slow-healing wounds. He is suffering from stomach pains as his body re-learns to process mostly liquid food.
According to his family, while Cooper was allowed to start eating solid food again, his liquid diet via feeding tube often left him feeling full. too much to even enjoy some of his favorite foods, only needing a few chews before feeling full and nauseous.
Also, due to ongoing COVID-19 safety protocols during rehab, I can only see my whole family for short periods of time once a week.
"He misses his twin brother, Luke. He misses everything: his family, his house, his room, his toys, his friends, his dog, his school. "What am I going to do with my break time? It will be weeks before he gets back to school," his family said. In total, his rehab is expected to take 6 to 12 weeks. He is then reunited with his twin brother Luke in third grade at Braeside Elementary School in Highland Park.
At the Massacre Parade, Cooper was shot in the back and the bullet in his chest. I got out of The bullet "inflicted severe damage throughout his body, including the aorta, liver, esophagus, spinal cord. { .She said she suffered gunshot wounds in two parts of her leg and has already had multiple surgeries on her leg.The injuries require ongoing orthopedic treatment, she said.
Cooper's brother Luke suffered only minor injuries, but the psychological trauma was devastating in itself, Roberts writes.
Cooper and Luke , receiving personal counseling and mental health services.Cooper suffers from sleep-disrupting flashbacks and other post-traumatic stress symptoms.
"The atrocity of being shot by a sniper is It's layered on top of it all.Most people, both physically and mentally, never see the harsh aftermath of surviving these devastating wounds.We will always encourage Cooper. , remains motivating, positive and hopeful, but wants people to know the raw reality of his/our new world," Cooper's family wrote.{144
Yet his family said that as he recovered, "every kindness would make him smile." Thank you for your prayers and donations,” his family wrote. , which has raised over $1.7 million to date.
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