CODY STRONG

Cody Martin is an amazing young man and he has a fighter spirit. Through struggles and complications he smiles and says thank you. His family Ed, Tara and his older brother Zack have had to take a step back from their lives and help Cody with his. Tara had to leave her full time job to become Cody's care taker at home and in doing so their household income was cut in half. Through the rough winter the family had numerous roadblocks to hurdle but not once did they ever lose sight of why and who they are fighting for. Cody has given the people around him and everyone he meets a new lease on life. Please show support and help spread the word that Cody Strong is not just a slogan but an actual movement through hard times - a boy’s strength can make everyone see how truly strong they are.

I met Cody while volunteering at a little league opening day this past weekend and unexpected to all Cody, a vibrant and jovial young man was called out to throw the first pitch. Cody has had a benign brain tumor that was diagnosed last February and he has been fighting it ever since. Having seizures and being pulled from school didn't stop Cody from fighting and meeting him for the first time you could not tell that he was in any pain at all. Cody being a diehard Boston Red Sox fan and playing baseball throughout his youth, he knew this year he would have to hang up his cleats and undergo brain surgery where the tumor would have to be removed. Cody gave up this year’s baseball season in hopes to be back and stronger than ever next year.

Cody went into Boston Children's Hospital on Wednesday early in the morning and underwent a pain staking 14 hour surgery successfully removing the tumor that has plagued him for the past year. Over the next 24 hours doctors and nurses had to monitor and evaluate Cody's ever delicate situation as he continued to have some complications. Cody has a never quit attitude and even through pain he consistently and remarkably remained a gentleman thanking his nursing staff and being STRONG when doctors informed him and his family that they again will have to do extended surgery on Cody and his brain.

Cody on Friday will be going in for again an extended 7+ hour surgery where now doctors hope to removed damaged brain tissue to alleviate Cody's pain and seizures.

Hopes of this fundraiser will give Cody added strength to "Knock this one out of the park!"