Photo: 

Cody B. was born January 13, 1999. His due
date was March 21st. He weighed in at 3.5lbs. He was doing very well and
then got an infection. They told us for days that he wouldn’t make it,
and even let us bring our two little boys so they could see him. But day
by day he started to get better. They were preparing us to take him
home and then he had a brain bleed. At first, they told us there was
nothing they could do for him, but one of our Doctors (Dr. Stoddard)
contacted Dr. Walker at Primary Children’s Hospital. Dr. Walker said to
bring him up. It felt like such a miracle! Cody ended up having 3
shunts, and we eventually got to bring him home. Dr. Walker continues to
be one of our angels.  We knew that he wouldn’t be “normal” and that we
would have struggles with him, but they weren’t sure what they would
be, so we got to have a slow learning curve.  I remember when he was
about five and one of his therapists told me that we would need to look
into getting him a wheelchair and I was a little surprised to realize
that he would never walk.

There was a story on the wall at UVRMC  Newborn ICU that has stuck
with me, and it brings me comfort.  I can only remember parts of it, and
I am sure I won’t tell it nearly as well but this is the main part that
has stayed with me:

We planned a trip to France, we learned the language,
we bought the right clothes and read everything about France, and when
we landed, we realized we were in Holland. Holland! We can’t be in
Holland! We don’t know anything about Holland and this is not what we
planned. But little by little we learned to love Holland. Sometimes,
when our friends or family talk about their trip to France, we wonder
what it would have been like to go there, and sometimes we are jealous.
But mostly, we are grateful for the journey we did get to go on.

I am grateful for every day I get to spend with Cody. He literally
lights up my life and the people around him. He is truly such a joy. I
am grateful for the spirit he brings into my life.

There are days that I wonder how much longer I will be able to lift him.
There are days when I get tired of changing diapers. I wish he could
talk, and tell me all of the things he tries to show me. He eats by a
feeding tube, so we have to make sure we take everything, and figure out
a place to feed him so people don’t feel uncomfortable.  There are
places I can’t go and take him, like the grocery store, because I can’t
push a wheelchair and a shopping cart. There are normal things in life
that take a lot of planning. Can we get a wheelchair there? Can we carry
him far enough to sit down without a wheelchair?

Would I trade my journey? No.  Do I wonder what might have been?
Yes.  But at the end of the day, when he pats me or does his sign for
love, it is all worth it and I am so grateful for the blessings he has
brought. Everyday we spend with him is a gift.

Holland is a beautiful place and has a lot to offer, if you just let it.

-Trudy, Mother of Cody

Cody's Family have passed on the following Ryan's Lions

Lion 112
Lion 122
Lion 236
Lion 237
Lion 238
Lion 239
Lion 240
Lion 241
Lion 264
Lion 272