Photo: Courtesy of the Roberts Family
An 8-year-old boy, who was paralyzed from the waist down after being wounded at the Highland Park Independence Day parade, remains in “very critical” condition.
Cooper Roberts underwent his seventh surgery to “reclose the original bullet-induced tear in his esophagus,” the family’s spokesperson Anthony Loizzi told PEOPLE in a statement.
“This is his seventh surgery and is of particularly high risk given his age and current condition,” Loizzi said, perThe Chicago Tribune.
Though there were “positive signs” following the surgery, the child’s fever later spiked and a CT scan showed “fluid building in his esophagus, lungs and now around his pelvis,” according to an update on the family’sGoFundMe page.
Cooper remains on a ventilator and a breathing tube due to the post-surgery complications.
The boy’s mother Keely Roberts asked that people keep Cooper in their thoughts.
“Please keep sending love and prayers to my son as he continues to fight as hard as he can,” she shared on the GoFundMe page.
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Courtesy of the Roberts Family
“The family is very grateful for the outpouring of support and well-wishes and asks for continued prayers for Cooper’s healing,” the GoFundMe update added.
Tragically, Cooper’s mother and twin brother Luke were also injured. Some of the shrapnel remains in Luke’s body because they were too dangerous to remove, according toUSA Today.
Seven people were killed in the Highland Park shooting, with more than two dozen others injured. Last Tuesday, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Officefiled seven first-degree murder chargesagainst the suspect, Robert E. Crimo, III, 21, callingthe massacrea “pre-mediated and calculated attack” in a statement.
Additional charges are likely, prosecutors say. If convicted, the suspect faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
source: people.com
