Father shares update as 6-year-old Kenosha Co. boy continues fight for his life after lawn mower accident

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A six-year-old Kenosha County boy continues to fight for his life, nearly a week after a lawn mower launched a piece of metal, hitting the boy's head and sending him to the hospital.

Alex Hook was playing during recess at Riverview Elementary School in Silver Lake on Sept. 10 when someone was operating a lawn mower on a grass median by the school. According to Kenosha County Sheriff's Department investigators, a piece of rebar was launched by the lawn mower and hit Alex in the head. The boy was taken to Children's Wisconsin in Milwaukee by helicopter and underwent surgery.

On Thursday, Sept. 16, Alex's father shared an update on Facebook.

"It's scary, I mean we're all worried right now," Kirbey Hook said in the video.

Hook said Alex was briefly taken off a ventilator Thursday.

The 6-year-old was briefly awake and responded with nods to his parents.

"Unfortunately, the tube he had down his throat was making his vocal chords swell up and he had some… it was not good, his vocal chords swelled up and he couldn't breathe very well," Hook said.

The complications with the vocal chords forced medical staff to put Alex back on the ventilator and sedate him.

"We're praying," Kirbey Hook said. "Everyone just keep praying."

The family said doctors will try again Friday to see if they are able to get Alex off the ventilator.

"It is such an emotional rollercoaster," Michelle Koertgen, Alex's aunt and godmother told CBS 58. "It's horrific. I don't wish this on my worst enemy."

Koertgen said the family is hopeful for better news soon and are grateful for the level of care Alex is getting.

"It's trial and error, so if this doesn't work, you reverse it, you trying something else," Koertgen said. "God bless the wonderful staff at Children's Hospital," she added. "In a lesser facility, he may not be in this position, he might be gravely worse."

The family said they are overwhelmed by the support received by friends, the community and strangers online.

A GoFundMe page has raised nearly $130,000 as of Thursday evening, Sept. 16. The funds raised are for Alex's medical costs which his parents' insurance cannot cover.

Silver Lake School District Administrator Jon Schleusner sent this statement to CBS 58:

“Over the past few days, we have seen our staff, students and the community-at-large express great concern and devastation over the accident that occurred on September 10th.  At Riverview Elementary School we have made counselors available to students and staff to help with the emotions and trauma of this accident.  Our staff have been proactively working with law enforcement and due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and to protect the privacy of our students we cannot provide further comment at this time.”
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