What was supposed to be an evening of fun ride turned out a little differently for seven-year-old Ryder Cooper on Thursday, June 23, who remains in intensive care battling for his life.
As The Independent was prepared for print, Cooper's mother Danielle Rondeel said her son "is in a state of grogginess, his brain won't let him fully wake up, so he can open his eyes and move his arms and legs, but cannot communicate or respond."
Earlier, recounting how her son had to be airlifted to Edmonton by STARS, Rondeel said "We decided that we would go to Family Night at the Stettler MX Track, it was a free ride night and Ryder was so excited.
"He had been to the track a couple of times previously."
When the family got there, Cooper got geared up and headed out onto the track like normal.
"He had gone around a few times and then I stood on top of a picnic table to get some video of him coming around the track, but he never came around," said Rondeel.
Rondeel was informed that Cooper was unconscious and was asked if she would like an ambulance.
"I said yes and went to where Ryder was on the track, he was still unconscious and unresponsive," said Rondeel. "I did not see the accident happen but was told that he was hit from behind by the rider that was following him."
Rondeel stayed with Ryder there until the ambulance arrived.
They transported him to the Stettler Hospital where he was airlifted by STARS to the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton.
At that point Rondeel and her family did not know what was wrong with Cooper other than that he would not wake up, had trouble breathing on his own and that he had two broken collar bones.
According to Rondeel when they arrived in Edmonton, the doctor informed them that Cooper had two broken collar bones, a collapsed lung, lung contusions, a rib fracture in his back and a severe brain injury.
Cooper could not breathe on his own so he was sedated and a breathing tube was put in.
"They also did an operation to put a pressure monitor in his brain," said Rondeel. "The doctors said that he was hit so hard from behind that it compressed his chest, even with his chest protector."
Rondeel mentioned that the MX Track officials were nothing but amazing with Cooper.
Rondeel, Adam Litvak and sisters Kayda and Raegyn are thankful for all the support they have received, and so is Cooper's dad, Mike Cooper and his girlfriend Rachel.
"It is sad and devastating to say the least," said Tom Fisher, president of the Stettler Dirt Riders' Association.
Donations for Adam, Dani and family can by made to any ATB in the province.