Below is a couple of addition I've made to our marathon page - I added two videos and a photo of Don's home made sign that he wears on his back as he trains!  He's actully had people stop and ask what "Cody's Hope" is!  Saturday Don ran 21 miles!!!  He is raring to go - and we are just hoping it's not a wet, rainy day Nov. 30th!  These photos and videos are from today.  Love, Shawna

"and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us." 

Hebrews 12:1

We are so excited to announce that Don and Cody will be competing in the Seattle Marathon!  Don and Cody have been long time running buddies - and they will run this race as a fundraiser to help us provide the intensive daily therapies Cody needs to help him learn and progress despite the ravages of his daily seizures. 

Most of all, we covet your prayers and that is the greatest gift you could give to Cody.  We are so grateful for the caring people that are walking shoulder to shoulder through this with us.  And we'd love to see you at the finish line to herald "Team Cody's" arrival!  But if you feel led to donate to "Cody's Hope" just click on this Paypal link:  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=177751

                Or you can mail donations to "Cody's Hope Donation Fund" - Wells Fargo Bank:  MAC P6632-011, 10010 Shoultes Rd.  Marysville, Wa. 98270.  Or go to any Wells Fargo and ask for "Cody's Hope" from the confidential donation list.  Checks can be made out to "Cody's Hope."

Mr. Miracle!

When Cody was diagnosed with catastrophic "infantile spasms" at 6 months, Doctors told us he'd never walk, he'd never talk, and he'd never attain new skills.  In the 3 years since that diagnosis, Cody's proven them all wrong!  Although he still battles the ravages of many daily seizures, he has worked so very hard to learn and grow.  Through an intensive autism therapy program called A.B.A. (Applied Behavioral Analysis), a therapeutic approach called "Floortime," and intensive therapy with a speech pathologist, Cody's life has changed and he's doing things we never thought possible.  He's using sign language and pictures to communicate, he's imitating, making eye contact, and so much more. 

Because of Cody's brain abnormalities, daily seizures, and complex developmental issues, it takes more hours of therapy and the most highly skilled providers to break through.  We've finally found a "dream team" of therapists who are figuring out how to help Cody reach his full potential - and with their help -Cody is shocking us with what he is capable of.  It is so exciting!

But as you can imagine, it is expensive and not covered by insurance.  Cody only gets a few hours a week of these precious therapies due to their expense.  We desperately want to add more hours, so we chose a marathon as a fundraiser because, well, our life is a marathon!  And Don has never run in one so it's a fun new challenge for him. And as grueling as this 26 miles will be for Don to run, it is nothing compared to the daily marathon Cody lives - even in his sleep he has dozens of seizures all night.  

We want to provide Cody with the best life possible.  We want to know as much of him as we can.  We believe these intensive therapies are the key to helping Cody reach his full potential and gain back what his many seizures threaten to take away.  

The history of "Team Cody"

When we found out we were pregnant with Cody, my competetive sports-loving husband Don dreamed of sharing sports with his son.  Tragically that dream seemed to die with Cody's catastrophic diagnosis.  But Don found a way to make his dream come true - to connect with his son through sports.  You may see them on the road as you drive down the streets of the Seattle's Eastside!  And you'll see Cody loving the ride with sunglasses on and a big goofy grin.  Cody LOVES to move and the jogger stroller is one of his favorite places to be. 

It is in the spirit of "Team Cody" that Don will run the Seattle Marathon - as a salute to his "iron-man son" who is our hero.  Don and Cody will be training together for the next 2 months. 

100% of the donations will go to pay for therapy for Cody.  Hopefully one day, through God's grace and all of the intensive therapeutic intervention, Cody will be able to walk up to you and say "thank you" himself!

Our inspiration:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy8hOOvM0t0