LIVINGSTON PARISH — After his tricycle was stolen, then returned in early May, Cody Hodges has been through two major heart surgeries. He’s now back home and recovering after spending weeks in Boston for those surgeries, his family told UWK.
Cody and his family got back home last week after spending time in Boston recovering from two open heart surgeries. The first surgery was to help repair a mitral valve condition in his heart. However, while performing surgery, surgeons decided they would need to put in a mechanical valve instead.
The new valve is bigger than the minimum size he needed and now Cody’s heart no longer has a blockage or leaking, surgeons said.
Surgeons later went back and inserted a pacemaker to help keep Cody’s heart in rhythm, his dad shared with UWK.
Last week, Cody was able to travel back home and continue his recovery in Louisiana.
“He’s happy to be back home and he’s happy to see everybody,” Hodges said of his son. “It’s hard trying to keep him from doing stuff.”
Even though they’re back home, Cody and his family are regularly visiting with his doctors on his medicines and how things are progressing with recovery. He has about another month ahead that he will have to stay resting without too much activity.
In other positive news, Hodges shared that today is Cody’s birthday, and he is now 20-years-old, officially graduating from teenager status. He is spending the afternoon with some of his family.
“We wanted to tell everybody, thank you for everything; all the prayers, donations, and stuff, from me and his mama,” Hodges shared.
In early May, Hodges shared a plea after Cody’s tricycle was stolen. Cody, who has Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), is known for his funny, outgoing nature and his love of outside and playing sports. The bike is one of his favorite things. Cody is also the youngest of his siblings. “He means a lot to me; that’s my baby. He means a lot to everybody, everybody who meets him.”
After the first report, multiple people in the community stepped up, offering their own tricycles or offering to buy him a brand-new one. However, authorities soon located the tricycle in Tangipahoa Parish, and arrested 31-year old Nathan Gauthreaux. The Hodges got the original bike back, but the fender is damaged, the basket is missing, and all of the lights are missing.
Just days after the tricycle was stolen and right before Cody was headed to Boston for his first heart surgery, deputies with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and motorcycle deputies with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office surprised the teen.
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