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An 8-year-old boy shot during the July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois, remains hospitalized in critical condition, with his spinal cord severed.
Cooper Roberts is sedated and ventilated at a Chicago children’s hospital, family spokesman Anthony Loizzi said during a news conference Thursday. The elementary student is among the youngest victims of the mass shooting that left seven dead and dozens more injured.
“It will be a new normal for him in the future,” said Loizzi, who was sometimes thrilled. “They are not sure, due to the severed spinal cord, whether he will be able to walk again or not in the future.”
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Cooper’s mother, Keely, and her twin brother, Luke, were also injured. Luke Roberts suffered shrapnel wounds, Loizzi said, and is recovering at home after being discharged from the hospital. Keely Roberts, who serves as superintendent for Zion School District 6, was shot twice in the leg and foot.
She was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday after undergoing surgery. She has insisted on being released, Loizzi said, and has focused on her son’s injuries.
“After having his second surgery and then receiving the news that Cooper’s spinal cord had been cut, he told his doctors and nurses that they had to discharge him or that he would leave alone, because he had to ‘be with your son.,’ he said.
The twins are the youngest of Keely and Jason Roberts’ six children. The two “loved the parade,” Loizzi said. I didn’t know the details of how the family was injured or where they were along the route of the parade.
Cooper, a sports lover and the youngest of the twins, was shot in the chest and taken to a hospital by Life Flight, according to an update from Zion 6 Elementary School District shared with community members. He has undergone several surgeries, Loizzi said, “including one last night when doctors were finally able to close his body.”
As of Thursday, an online fundraiser had received more than $ 235,000 in donations for the family. Loizzi said the Roberts, who are expected to face significant medical expenses, are grateful for the support they have received and support each other.
“They’re devastated, but they’re focusing all their energy right now on Cooper,” he said. “It’s been a very emotional time for everyone in her circle, and if you know Keely, she’s just a fighter. And it looks like Cooper has that part of her in him, because he’s fighting as much as he can.”