HOLDEN — Teen Cody Hodges is continuing to recover after heart surgery for a mechanical valve and now a pacemaker. Hodges underwent his first surgery just over a week after his beloved stolen tricycle was recovered and law enforcement agencies came together to surprise him.
Cody’s father, Bryant Hodges, told UWK that they will be spending just a few more days at the hospital before they should be able to return home. Overall, Cody is doing well and his surgeries have been a success.
Hodges added that he wants to say, “thanks for all the prayers and donations” for Cody.
Original story May 15
A teen is recovering from heart surgery just over a week after his stolen tricycle was recovered and a man arrested. Cody Hodges, 19, recently underwent surgery to help repair a mitral valve condition in his heart.
While surgeons initially hoped they could repair the valve, they ended up putting in a mechanical one. 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.
Doctors have Cody on a temporary pacemaker right now while he’s recovering, but they hope he will be able to come off of it. If his heart rate stays low, though, he could need a regular pacemaker implanted.
He has a long way to go in recovery, but things are looking good at this time.
Cody has Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and riding his tricycle is one of his biggest joys, his father Bryant Hodges told UWK.
After the incident when his tricycle was stolen, multiple people stepped up, offering their own tricycles or offering to buy him a brand-new one. But before anyone could replace it, Cody’s stolen bike was recovered in Tangipahoa Parish, where one person was arrested in connection with the theft.
After seeing UWK’s coverage of the theft, EBRSO’s traffic division reached out wanting to purchase Cody a new tricycle. Since the bike had already been recovered, deputies instead decided to surprise the family in another way, by helping financially with Cody’s heart surgery in Boston.
If you want to donate to the family to assist with Cody’s medical and travel expenses, you can Venmo Cody’s dad, Bryant, at @bhodges99.
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