In a positive development, the child was upgraded to serious condition last week and was asked to see his twin brother, Luke, and his dog while he was briefly conscious. Cooper was sedated again because of the pain, the spokesman said. But a new infection caused the child’s fever to rise, increased his heart rate and returned him to critical condition, Loizzi said in a statement Tuesday. One of the child’s lungs also partially collapsed, Loizzi said. “Yesterday’s esophageal procedure revealed that the tear in Cooper’s esophagus has reopened. As a result, he faces an emergency, complicated and lengthy surgery today to try again to repair his torn esophagus,” Loizzi said. It was his seventh surgery, Loizzi said, and “particularly high-risk.” In an update Tuesday night, the spokesman said the surgery was complete and doctors were able to find and close the leak. “This is a good result — Cooper is still fighting! His condition is being closely monitored and the next few days will be critical to ensure he responds positively,” Loici said. A verified GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support the family. Luke also suffered shrapnel injuries and was treated and released, Loici previously said. Their mother, Keely Roberts, “was shot in the leg and foot area” and underwent several surgeries, but was discharged because she wanted to be by Cooper’s side, Loisi said. Kiley Roberts is the superintendent of Zion Elementary School District 6, a school district in northeastern Illinois. In an update Sunday, district officials said Cooper was in great pain “physically and emotionally — especially as the family had to share with him the devastating news that he is paralyzed from the waist down.” Citing a statement from doctors, the news outlet said the child’s esophagus was injured in the shooting but that doctors were able to close a hole in the organ. “The family wants to recognize and thank the many, many people — emergency physicians, police, fire department, nurses and doctors at both hospitals — who did extraordinary things to save Cooper’s life. It was a true miracle “, the district said. the update said. CNN’s Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.
