Landen Hoffmann was visiting the mall with his mother on April 12 when a stranger, 24-year-old Emmanuel Aranda, suddenly picked him up and tossed him over the railing.
Bloomington Police Department
Aranda later admitted that he was “looking for someone to kill” and has since been sentenced to 19 years in prison.
The boy’s pastor said doctors thought Landen’s survival was “truly a miracle,” but his family now says the child is still far from healthy.
In an update on GoFundMe, the family said:
While the miracle of his survival is what we celebrate and thank Jesus for every day, we must also acknowledge that our beautiful boy has been on a very challenging road to recovery.
GoFundMe
The family added that the past couple months have been “so hard for our young son and our family.”
Landen is currently in intensive care due to serious complications, they said:
However, the injuries and severe complications have now resulted in more than 15 separate medical procedures or surgeries, including surgeries for two broken arms and a broken leg, removal of his spleen, procedures for fluid in his lungs and stomach, as well as for facial and skull fractures; and just this past weekend, he had a stent placed in a vein that runs through his liver because of the serious complications he continues to endure.
As of now, the family said it’s unclear when the boy will be able to return home because he’s “under constant treatment and monitoring.”
The GoFundMe campaign for the boy has raised more than $1 million to help cover the child’s medical costs.
His family said they are thankful for all the prayers and best wishes.
They added, “Please continue to pray for him.”
