Cooper Roberts, the boy who was shot in the Highland Park parade shooting, went outside and had a popsicle for the first time on Thursday since he was hospitalized.
Roberts, 8, suffered a gunshot to the abdomen and his spinal cord was severed. He was airlifted to a hospital in Chicago where he remains.
Family spokesperson Anthony Loizzi said Friday morning Cooper remains in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Cooper sat up and breathed on his own last weekend.
He was moved back to critical condition after a CT scan showed the fluid building up in his pelvis is an abscess, Loizzi said.
Doctors discussed on Friday how they can drain it. His fever has been returning on and off, likely due to the infection.
Cooper was able to take liquid by mouth, an orange popsicle, for the first time since he was hospitalized, Loizzi said.
He also went outside in his wheelchair for the first time on Thursday.
Cooper underwent a procedure on June 11 which revealed a tear in his esophagus reopened.
The tear continues to heal from surgeries, Loizzi said.
Cooper received a package from the Milwaukee Brewers, his favorite baseball team, that had a personalized jersey.
It “really lifted his spirits,” Loizzi said.
Keely Roberts, who is the superintendent for Zion Elementary School District 6, was attending the Highland Park parade on July 4 with her two twin sons, Cooper and Luke.
Keely and Cooper were both shot when a gunman opened fire during the parade, wounding dozens of people and killing seven.
Keely Roberts was seriously injured but is recovering.
Keely underwent several surgeries after she suffered gunshot wounds to her leg and foot area. She was later discharged from the hospital.
Luke is recovering at home with his sisters.
Loizzi said he was able to spend time at Ewana Farms in Lake Forest with his sisters.
“Thanks to the help from some Lake Forest moms, Ewana Farms provided Luke with a private beekeeping educational session during which he was able to put on a bee suit and visit the bees at the farm,” Loizzi said.
A GoFundMe account for the family raised over $1.6 million as of Sunday afternoon.
Loizzi said the Roberts family continues to be grateful for the support they received.