Cody's Story

Cody
Age 12
Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children
Arteriovenous Malformation

10-year-old Cody was suddenly struck with an excruciating headache – it was so bad, in fact, that his mom rushed him to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for urgent medical care. The experts found an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that led to excessive bleeding in his brain and extreme pressure and swelling. This rare condition caused Cody to lay unconscious in the pediatric intensive care unit for several weeks.

Due to Cody’s fragile condition and inoperable location of the AVM, physicians used state-of-the-art technology through Gamma Knife radiation treatment to relieve the pressure, but the AVM remained. When Cody finally woke up, he had to re-learn everything, from sitting to walking and talking.

Through it all, Cody never gave up. While he continues to regain his strength, he is developing additional new talents. Cody is participating in school musicals and the school dance club. He is also playing basketball and volleyball again with friends.