Cody is my hero. Cody had always told me he wanted to be an organ donor. No family member should ever have to make this final decision when their son or daughter is in a comatose state, or any family member. For me it was a decision I did not want to have to make but I knew it had to be made. Fortunately, Cody already had it checked on his driver’s license. Cody was able to donate many of his organs, including his heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, pancreas, tissues such as skin, bone, heart valves, etc. They were unable to donate his eyes or lungs. I would like to thank St. Mary’s Hospital, Milwaukee, WI, especially their Intensive Care Unit, and their very passionate nurses, doctors, chaplains, Versiti Donate Life Organization (Sierra, Elyce, Courtney, Sarah, Nicole, and Raquel). I would like to name all the nurses but every nurse and doctor and chaplain should be honored for all they do for their patients and our loved ones. Cody was a very compassionate person. He always helped out for holidays in food kitchens preparing or serving food. Cody cared about the environment. He helped us start a compost. Always carry recyclable bags, etc. He loves animals, especially his dog Reggie who is living with me and his step dad now. Cody moved about 9 months ago from Manitowoc, WI, to Milwaukee, WI. Cody’s favorite place was the Manitowoc Public Library, and said it was his favorite of all libraries he has been to. He also loved taking his dog, Reggie, to the dog park and loved animals, especially dogs and cats. He absolutely loved the guys he worked for in Milwaukee, Wood Town Rose (Matt, Tim, Conner and his coworkers). Cody was an artist. He loved his job designing and making the stained glass windows for doors, etc. He was at a good place in his life. He lived in sober living for a few months and recently just got into his own apartment. He was so happy. Things changed quickly. I’m so thankful for the police officers that arrived at his place for a wellness check and were able to revive him and get a pulse back until he got to the hospital. Because of these heroes, he was able to stay in a comatose state until family members and friends could fly or drive to the hospital to talk to him and tell them how much we loved him. The hospital doctors and nurses did a lot of testing to get results for matches for recipients. The Versiti Donor Organization, that I mentioned above, worked 24 hours a day, to get organ matches and lining up and preparing the donors for their new organs. Next step was the Honor Walk. The hallway was lined with employees, doctors, nurses, family and friends, honoring Cody while his operation bed was pushed down the hall with his and his brother’s favorite music Then immediate family members got in scrubs and were able to go into the operation room to say goodbye. I requested we play Beautiful Boy by John Lennon, all the while we were saying goodbye to him. It was time and we said our final goodbyes to Cody. I talked to Cody and said it was okay to leave us now and that God and his recipients were waiting for him. He passed immediately after that. The surgeons moved fast, one organ at a time, getting the organ and getting it to the destination for the waiting recipient. It felt so good to know that Cody was going to save all these lives and make their lives better because of him. I prayed hard for all the recipients and am still praying that Cody, age 40, will live on with them and they will continue to accept his organs and have a better life in Cody’s name. Amen.
Cody would always have me stop and give a few dollars to homeless people. I would ask him about homeless people possibly taking advantage of people and Cody would say, if they are humble enough to beg for money for food, for a beer, or even a cigarette, (we don’t smoke) but Cody said none of that matters, what matters is, give them a few dollars or something, smile at them and show them you care. They need a kind person to show them love. He taught me so much. Cody also was very concerned about our environment, He taught me a lot and has us composting at our home and taught us how to always recycle.
