April 2026 – When he first arrived at La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Cooper lacked confidence and motivation. He’d been shot in the head with an air rifle pellet gun on Valentine’s Day, which caused a serious brain injury. The bullet was lodged in his brain, and he was unable to move the left side of his body.
After spending time in the pediatric intensive care unit, doctors stabilized Cooper, and he began the long road of rehabilitation. His mother, Tyler, worried her son wouldn’t be able to move or walk again. After considering the available options for the next steps of his recovery, she decided Cooper’s needs would be best met at La Rabida.
“When he came here, it all changed,” says Tyler, who describes her son as helpful, considerate, and a young gentleman. “Cooper had the freedom and independence to be himself.”
“Everyone here really cares, and they just have a truly different approach, which is why I think he’s doing so well,” says Tyler.
Within two weeks of admission to our inpatient unit, Cooper shocked everyone in the room. He turned to his physical therapist, Sydney, and did something no one in the room was expecting.
“He said, ‘Look!’ then spontaneously lifted his leg,” says Sydney. “In that same session, he went from saying, I can’t, to I’ll try.”
At 10 years old, he’s learning how to walk again. But rebuilding his physical strength is only one component of the recovery journey, and with the help of La Rabida’s holistic, patient-centered approach to care, he’s making great strides.
“The nature of his brain injury is complex; however, Cooper’s progress just reminds us to appreciate how resilient a child can be,” says La Rabida Hospitalist, Dr. Nicholas Woolf.
Cooper has weekly rehabilitation sessions with the same speech-language pathologist and occupational and physical therapists. All three specialties collaborate on a care plan to maintain consistency by focusing on strength and sensory progress from each session.
“He’s the helper of our family, but we’re here to help him now,” says Tyler. “Seeing him get stronger physically and how his mind is developing, too … I’m so proud of him.”
Providing our patients with recurring high-quality care and education is a critical component of successful recoveries and outcomes. Dr. Woolf says the trajectory of Cooper’s progress is a testament to the unique focus on the patients and families we serve at La Rabida.
“Working with Cooper, his family, and the staff highlights the best of what La Rabida has to offer,” says Dr. Woolf. “This is meaningful work.”
The goal is for Cooper to return home. When that day comes, Tyler says, she’s comforted knowing she can count on La Rabida.
“It feels a bit scary to think about leaving. This has felt like home, more than anywhere else,” says Tyler. “I’m going to switch his primary care doctor to La Rabida’s Outpatient Clinic. I want him to keep seeing the staff here; they know him and all he’s been through. That’s the best thing for him.”
