A young victim of the Highland Park mass shooting woke up from a coma and learned he can no longer walk.
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Copper Roberts sustained a spinal cord injury during the Highland Park mass shooting in Chicago. Seven people were killed and 40 others, including Roberts’ mother and twin brother, were injured during the shooting. On Friday, he woke up from his coma and was taken off a ventilator but is reportedly in a lot of pain.
According to Metro UK, doctors don’t believe he suffered from brain damage but it is unlikely that he’ll walk again due to his spinal cord being severed.
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A spokesman for the family said he might have significant issues due to his paralysis and will have to adjust to a new normal way of life.
‘It’s going to be a new normal for him moving. It sounds (like) he’ll have significant issues moving forward, especially with walking.’
As for his mother and brother, doctors were unable to remove most of the shrapnel from Luke’s body but he was able to recover and rest at home. Dr. Roberts had multiple surgeries since she was shot twice in the leg and foot area. However, she was released on Wednesday after learning about Cooper’s condition.
“After she received her second surgery, and then she received news that Cooper’s spinal cord had been severed, she told her doctors and nurses that they should either discharge her, or she’d walk out on her own,”
A GoFundMe page was created to help with the family’s medical expenses and so far, it has raised $1.1 million. Cooper’s favorite team, the Milwaukee Brewers, hung up a honorary jersey during a game on Friday.
The Zion School District board President issued a letter to parents to support Dr. Roberts during her recovery.
“The District has received many offers of support from superintendents (active and retired) from throughout the region to assist us with short-term interim administrative assistance as we determine the best next steps as Dr. Roberts and her family take the time needed to heal from this devastating event. The Zion Elementary School District 6 Board of Education will have a special meeting early next week. We do not anticipate having additional information to share at that time. Moving forward, we will update our school community when we can. For seven years in Zion District 6 and other area school districts for many years prior, Dr. Roberts has done everything she can to support the needs of students and families in our community.”