Hoping to shed light on what this new reality looked like, Cooper’s family has been providing regular updates on the boy’s condition in the weeks since the attack, including the numerous surgeries he underwent as doctors worked to repair injured organs and prevent infections. The child is still in “constant pain” from internal wounds that are slow to heal, his family said Tuesday. “He is on a continuous IV course of antibiotics to prevent infection, has swelling that obscures the full internal picture, and suffers from stomach pain as his body learns to process mostly liquid food. He remains on heavy pain medication,” the update said. Cooper was recently cleared to start eating some solid foods, his family said, but he feels “full and nauseous” after a bite or two. “He is beginning to recognize the severity of his limitations as he participates in daily rigorous physical and occupational therapy maneuvering around two ports, a (catheter) line and three tubes leading out of his body.” And the emotional toll is just as heavy: Cooper misses his home and his family, whom he can only see briefly once a week due to Covid-19 rules, and is beginning to look forward to when he can be done with his twin brother in third grade — who could still be weeks away, his family said. “It’s very difficult to convince Cooper that he will be happy again,” the family said. “Of course, we’re very grateful for his survival and we know others weren’t so lucky, but we want people to know his/our path will be a very long and difficult one.” A verified GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support the family. CNN’s Adrienne Broaddus, Joe Sutton and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.
