Shooter incident at elementary school in Uvalde, Texas - 19 children and 2 adults dead

Before July Fourth, Cooper Roberts was almost always active and running around. He loved playing sports – including soccer, baseball and football – and riding his bike, his family has said.

Life has looked very different since the 8-year-old was shot in the Highland Park Fourth of July attack, and left paralyzed. Seven people were killed and dozens injured by the gunman who fired from a roof into the crowd.

“There are layers upon layers of cruelty with being shot by a sniper. Most people don’t witness the grueling aftermath of surviving these devastating wounds,” Cooper’s family said in a statement Tuesday updating his condition. “He’s an 8-year-old boy who feels hopeless, sad and angry as the reality of his life is setting in.”

Hoping to shed light on what that new reality has looked like, Cooper’s family has provided regular updates on the child’s condition in the weeks since the attack, including on the numerous surgeries he underwent as doctors worked to repair injured organs and stave off infections.

Earlier this month, Cooper was transferred to a rehabilitation facility after nearly a month in pediatric intensive care, a family spokesperson previously said.

The child is still in “constant pain” from internal wounds that are slow to heal, his family said Tuesday.

“He is on a constant IV drip of antibiotics to ward off infection, has swelling that obscures the full internal picture, and suffers stomach pain as his body relearns to process mainly liquid food. He remains on heavy painkillers,” the update said.

Cooper was recently cleared to begin eating some solid foods, his family said, but he feels “full and nauseous” after only a bite or two...........

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