Cooper Roberts, the boy who was paralyzed after being shot in the Highland Park shooting, has been moved out of the ICU after nearly a month and is able to eat his favorite foods for the first time.
8-year-old Cooper suffered a gunshot to the abdomen and his spinal cord was severed in the July 4 shooting. He was airlifted to a hospital in Chicago where he remains.
A family spokesperson said Friday morning that the boy is no longer in critical condition and is continuing to make progress.
As a result, Cooper was transferred out of the pediatric intensive care unit to a general floor at the hospital after almost a month.
The boy’s collapsed lung continues to heal and he is breathing on his own, the spokesperson said.
He has been fever free for most of the week and was able to eat solid food for the first time, including mac and cheese — one of his favorites.
Cooper was also able to visit the playroom in the hospital several times this week.
He is currently working to be medically cleared and deemed stable enough for transport so he can be transferred to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago.
He will have a “long road of recovery,” the spokesperson said.
“Please keep following along and praying for Cooper and for Luke. They are good, sweet boys who love everyone and want good for everyone they know,” said Keely Roberts, Cooper’s mother.
“They believe in the best in people and in the world. Their lives are so much more and better than this terrible thing than was done to them. Their lives are not a tragedy, they are a triumph,” she said.
Cooper recently received a package from the Milwaukee Brewers, his favorite baseball team, that had a personalized jersey.
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, Cooper and Luke were 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.
A GoFundMe account for the family raised over $1.7 million as of Saturday evening.