Wise Young
07-24-2001, 02:15 AM
http://www.codysfirststep.org/codyunser.htm
In the late afternoon of Friday, February 5, 1999, Cody was at 6th grade basketball practice in Albuquerque when she began to feel excessively tired, had difficulty catching her breath, developed a pounding headache and her legs felt heavy, numb and "tingly". She was taken to the emergency room at Presbyterian Hospital and sent home after evaluation.
The next morning, Feb. 6, Cody was unable to walk and returned to the hos pital, paralyzed below her chest. The mysterious symptoms were diagnosed as Transverse Myelitis, a rare but often paralyzing -- and sometimes fatal -- spinal cord inflammation.
It was April before she returned home. Two years later, Cody looks at her continuing paralysis as an opportunity to help others. She gets around well in a custom-fit "Quickie" wheelchair and is energized in her quest to build awareness of TM, promote cooperation among researchers and cure paralysis.
She has become a certified scuba diver, formed a foundation (with the help of NASCAR star Bobby Labonte), introduced mega-group SmashMouth in its 1999 Albuquerque concert, was the guest of Luc Longley at a Phoenix Suns game, met pop group "N' Sync" in Phoenix, received a citation from the New Mexico Speaker of the House, attended the Miami Project's "Sports Legends" dinner in New York City and was a guest at Christopher Reeve's birthday party.
Cody was awarded Prudential's prestigious 2001 "Spirit of America Award" for New Mexico middle-schoolers. She also was the keynote speaker for the 2000 Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award program in Albuquerque and the 2001 New Mexico 4-H Leadership Conference.
Currently finishing eighth grade at the Bosque School, Cody lives in Albuquerque with her mom Shelley, sister Shannon and brothers Al and Joey.
In September 1999 the Cody Unser First Step Foundation was created to generate awareness of Transverse Myelitis and promote communication nationally among hospitals and researchers who are trying to understand the condition.NASCAR star Bobby Labonte serves as Honorary Chairman (see the "<http://www.codysfirststep.org/mission.html> Mission Statement" page).
Please look around the website to learn more about Cody and the First Step Foundation. We warmly invite you to share your thoughts in the Guestbook, and if you care to contribute to this effort, information can be found under "<http://www.codysfirststep.org/donation.html> Contacts and Donations."
In the late afternoon of Friday, February 5, 1999, Cody was at 6th grade basketball practice in Albuquerque when she began to feel excessively tired, had difficulty catching her breath, developed a pounding headache and her legs felt heavy, numb and "tingly". She was taken to the emergency room at Presbyterian Hospital and sent home after evaluation.
The next morning, Feb. 6, Cody was unable to walk and returned to the hos pital, paralyzed below her chest. The mysterious symptoms were diagnosed as Transverse Myelitis, a rare but often paralyzing -- and sometimes fatal -- spinal cord inflammation.
It was April before she returned home. Two years later, Cody looks at her continuing paralysis as an opportunity to help others. She gets around well in a custom-fit "Quickie" wheelchair and is energized in her quest to build awareness of TM, promote cooperation among researchers and cure paralysis.
She has become a certified scuba diver, formed a foundation (with the help of NASCAR star Bobby Labonte), introduced mega-group SmashMouth in its 1999 Albuquerque concert, was the guest of Luc Longley at a Phoenix Suns game, met pop group "N' Sync" in Phoenix, received a citation from the New Mexico Speaker of the House, attended the Miami Project's "Sports Legends" dinner in New York City and was a guest at Christopher Reeve's birthday party.
Cody was awarded Prudential's prestigious 2001 "Spirit of America Award" for New Mexico middle-schoolers. She also was the keynote speaker for the 2000 Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award program in Albuquerque and the 2001 New Mexico 4-H Leadership Conference.
Currently finishing eighth grade at the Bosque School, Cody lives in Albuquerque with her mom Shelley, sister Shannon and brothers Al and Joey.
In September 1999 the Cody Unser First Step Foundation was created to generate awareness of Transverse Myelitis and promote communication nationally among hospitals and researchers who are trying to understand the condition.NASCAR star Bobby Labonte serves as Honorary Chairman (see the "<http://www.codysfirststep.org/mission.html> Mission Statement" page).
Please look around the website to learn more about Cody and the First Step Foundation. We warmly invite you to share your thoughts in the Guestbook, and if you care to contribute to this effort, information can be found under "<http://www.codysfirststep.org/donation.html> Contacts and Donations."