July 7, 2011

Hello there family and friends,

My Kerri is the only one there now with Cody.  Katie had to go home for a few days because of her job.  Kerri has informed me that the big surgery (plastic) that was planned has been cancelled because the skin on his face is growing in better than they expected. This is blessed good news, especially being that Cody has been through surgery after surgery.  Kerri has such a deep love for her son and has been there to see the details of all that he is going through, is seriously aching for her son and his suffering.  Please pray for her because this grief is draining her emotionally.  I am so proud of her seeking the Lord, and hanging in there with Cody, seeking to be a  loving, good communicator with the doctors and others about what needs talking about to bring peace and understanding.  It looks like Cody is going to be transferred to Palo Alto, California within the next few weeks, if all goes well, and then eventually transferred to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego after that.  Please be in prayer especially for Cody, and for Kerri and Katie, and for me and the kids. 

Thank you so much for all your loving support and prayers,

Brian and Cody’s family

Cody with his sister Gracious (4) and cousin Andrew (6).

Cody with his sister Gracious (4) and cousin Andrew (6).

Cody with mom Kerri and step-dad Brian.

Cody with mom Kerri and step-dad Brian.

June 30, 2011

Dear family and friends.  KSBY posted a news story today (See the link below).  The doctors were able to put a nerve block in to help with Cody’s pain. Thank You so much for all the love and support and prayers.  Much love, Brian and family  

June 29, 2011

Dear family and friends, Please pray for Cody.  The surgery on his right leg went well today, the doctor said.  Kerri thanked him and the doctor said it was his honor to do all he could to help Cody.  When she got to the recovery room, Cody was in a great deal of pain, at a high 8 on a one to ten scale.  She was very upset and was asking for prayer for him, Katie and herself.  The doctors or nurses dealing with the pain management were doing all they could to help Cody, but it was seeming like forever, seeing him in all that kind of pain.  Kerri and Katie could hardly stand it.       So, after I was finished reading with the children and getting them to bed, Kerri called again and I could right away sense the relief in her voice.  The pain had been brought down to a manageable 6.  Please be in prayer for Cody, Kerri and Katie during these difficult days they are experiencing.  Thank you again for all the prayers, love and support, Brian and family

June 23, 2011

Hello there,  Yesterday, Wednesday, was probably Kerri’s most difficult day since she has been in Maryland.  Cody has had surgery after surgery, and Wednesday he was in surgery for about 12 hours.  Of course, the only reason it was so difficult for her was because of what she has been seeing her son go through.   After seeing him in the recovery room after a twelve hour surgery on the right side of his cheekbone area and jaw, she was broken in heart to see all Cody was having to endure.  On top of that, Her dad and step-mom aren’t their anymore. Gary (Ker’s dad) had to get back home and is needed on his jobs. Please pray for the healing of nerve damage that has occurred because of three of his teeth being impacted into his jaw by the blast, and for grace to endure.  Please pray for the doctors to have wisdom from above.  And please pray, if you will, for my beloved wife to be able to find strength in the Lord now and in the coming days.  Much love and thanks, Brian.

June 19, 2011

Good day to you all.   What a great Father’s day gift for me to know that my wife is with my stepson, her firstborn, and that he is in good spirits considering all he has endured and will have to endure on the road of recovery.  The fact that his attitude is so positive, that his vital organs are in tact, and that his brain is functioning well has brought relief to all us.  There is a long road ahead, So please, if you will, keep praying for his recovery.  Thank you all again for all of your love and support and prayers.  Much Love, & Happy Father’s Day to all of you who are fathers, Brian

June 18, 2011

Dear friends and family, Cody has arrived in Bethesda, Maryland at the National Naval Medical Center.  Kerri’s flight left at 6:22 in the morning out of San Luis Obispo and will go to LAX to Chicago to DC and I think she said it’s about a 30 min drive to the hospital.  She was arriving somewhere around 8 pm before their drive to the hospital.  We met with our priest last night and he said a prayer for safe travels for Kerri and he said a prayer for me and the kids also, being that it looks like I will be operating as Mr. Mom for a while.  Thank You for all your love through prayers and kindnesses  and loving actions.  We are grateful to you and to God.  Now may the Lord bless Kerri, Gary (Kerri’s Dad), Debra (Kerri’s stepmom), Katie (Cody’s fiance),  and and Kris (Katie’s Mom) as they get to be at the bedside of our brave marine, Cody, very soon,  May God grant Cody strength from above this day and in the days ahead.  Please continue to, most of all, keep Cody in your prayers, if you will, and also my thankful (He’s alive), yet heartbroken beloved wife (it hurts her he is so severely injured), who will be there, Lord willing, for two weeks to 1 month.  Much love, Brian …and please remember Mr. Mom and the children here in prayer also, if you will.  We are going to need it. Thanks.

June 15, 2011

Dear family and friends,We are thankful and amazed that we heard from Cody this morning around 6am, 3pm where he is.  He was able to talk with his mamma for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Amazing.  Thanks be to God!  What a miracle!  It was truly a joy to hear Kerri get to speak her love to him and converse with her firstborn.  I got to hear his voice, being it was so quiet in our house (Thank God, our friends Tammie and Owen, Gracious’s best friend’s parents, took the kids for the night; and our 3 girl dogs are recovering from being fixed yesterday, so they are quieter).  We were not expecting he would be able to talk this soon.  He knew where he was and where he was headed and said he wanted to know when he would be back in California. The nurse said he was in good spirits, aware of his injuries, and so very thankful to be alive. He said to Kerri, “I got pretty banged up, Mamma”.  and Kerri said, “I know, Son.”    She told him how much she loved him.  She also passed on a few words to him from me.   Thank You so much for your love and prayers. We, and more importantly, Cody, are experiencing the help of God,  through these difficult days.  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ for all these blessings.   And may God give Cody strength today and in the days ahead.  Much Love and heartfelt thanks to you all, Cody’s family

June 14, 2011

We are thanking God for fact Cody is alive and has demonstrated much courage for our country and his fellow soldiers.  We are grieving because of the difficult road that is ahead for him, but rejoicing that he is still with us, and that he is being taken well care of.  We received a call this morning and given a phone number to reach the hospital in Germany.  The nurse’s name was Lauren and she was very loving and kind with Kerri, Cody’s mom.  She told us that Cody is able to follow her movements with his left eye.  She said he also has a broken jaw and or cheekbone on one side.  He was able to squeeze her finger and he did not want to let it go.  Kerri is preparing to go with her Dad to Maryland and see her firstborn.  Cody’s fiance and her mother Chris are preparing to meet them there and be with Cody.  Kerri and her father Gary are tentatively leaving this Saturday, if all goes as planned.  Please continue to pray for all of us, but especially Cody during these difficult days and the difficult days ahead.   Thank You for your love and support and prayers. 

Much love,  Brian and family