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By Jeff Todd
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) – Cooper Allen's cross country season is coming to an end. Next up was supposed to be wrestling, but his arm is not in good enough shape.
"I can not lift it all the way up," he said.
CBS4's Jeff Todd interviews Cooper Allen. (credit: CBS)
Cooper started to get sick with a fever and stiff neck on Aug. 7. The 13 year old would spend the rest of the summer in and out of hospital rooms. He was eventually diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis.
(credit: Amber Allen)
"Acute means sudden onset," said Cooper's mom, "Amber Allen. "We could never know where he got it from just that he got it. And I 've read that your whole family can have an illness, but it only effects one kid.
Amber has found assistance through a Facebook group with other families that have a child with the virus or have been through it. There are many cases of AFM where children fully recover from a paralysis within a few months.
Amber Allen (credit: CBS)
"I really need to report to the CDC. They said, "They are going to have a lot of trouble," Amber said.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says 15 cases of AFM have been reported in Colorado this year.
(credit: CBS)
Cooper is rigorously working on therapy and rehab to try and get movement in his upper left arm back. If he did not show improvement in the next few weeks he could try a nerve replacement surgery.
"It still changes your life when you change dreams. He's still happy and healthy, "said Amber. "He's not going to let it get the better of him."
LINK: Colorado Public Health Department Acute Flaccid Myelitis Resources
Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @ CBS4Jeff.
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