ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606260063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PULASKI
Jason Rooker, the 10-year-old whose breathing was cut off when a rope caught around his throat, was moved Monday to a Charlottesville rehabilitation center where the family says he will remain for several months.
Greg Rooker, the boy's father and owner and president of Family Community Newspapers, released a statement about his son Tuesday.
Jason was moved from a Roanoke hospital to the center in a semiconscious state and the "long-term prognosis is that he will be at the center for at least several months," the statement said.
"The best thing anyone can do to help is pray," Rooker said. "Jason's improvement is based in large measure to the outpouring of prayers from so many concerned people."
Rooker and his wife, Fran Rooker, performed CPR on their son when they found him hanging by a rope from a tree in the family's yard June 13. Jason was not breathing and had no pulse when his parents found him.
The boy was playing when he fell or jumped and got tangled in the rope.
LENGTH: Short : 28 linesby CNB