Cody’s Champions

Cody Krieg was born in Virginia in November 2011 with tetralogy of fallot (multiple heart defects) with pulmonary atresia (abnormal pulmonary arteries or obstruction) Cody also has alagille syndrome, which is a disorder that causes abnormalities of the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Cody has been a fighter since day one! No one knew he had these conditions at birth, so he was immediately rushed to the NICU at UVA. UVA was not set up to handle a case like Cody so Cody’s parents found a doctor and hospital in California that specialize in treating kids like Cody. After flying across the country to Stanford, Cody had his first heart surgery at 3 months of age. By the grace of God, the surgery was a success. Cody had his second open heart surgery in August 2013 and a third in August 2014. 

Cody has grown and developed into a sweet little guy. He has required numerous hospitalizations and procedures (both at home in VA as well as in CA) as he has grown. Due to the abnormalities in his blood vessels, several procedures and interventions have been necessary to provide enough blood flow and oxygen for his development and to prevent the loss of lung tissue. Cody is also very vulnerable to infections and viruses that other children fight off easily.

He turned 6 in 2017 and started Kindergarten. Cody is sweet and happy and loves his big sister, Lilly. He is learning to read and loves Disney’s Cars. 

Over the winter in Virginia Cody was getting constantly sick. In April 2018 he was taken again to his team in California. The doctors needed to clean mucus (plugs, he was unable to cough up) out of his lungs and to stimulate areas of his lungs not getting enough blood flow and on the verge of collapse. Cody also needed a valve replacement. The procedure was performed on April 12th. Cody’s valve replacement was a success but the procedures in his lungs caused a hemorrhage that continued for several days. Cody has been in a medically induced coma to prevent him from moving too much, which they fear will restart the bleeding. He has also been on a maximum flow ventilator. In the last several days, Cody’s lungs have slowly started to show improvement but due to the length of time in the induced coma as well as the time Cody has been ventilated, his recovery may be slow and difficult. He may remain in the hospital for weeks to come.

All this time his mother has been at his bedside, unable to work. This is made especially difficult because Cody and his mom are across the country from family and friends and they are in an area with very high cost of living in California (Silicon Valley).

If you are able to help, that is wonderful and I sincerely thank you. If not, please don’t worry. We thank you for your time. Whether or not you are able to donate, we ask for your prayers. Cody is a fighter and with the Lord’s touch has made it through so much. We want to keep him bathed in prayer now and in the future. 

I’ll close with this clip from a letter that Lilly (age10)  wrote to her (and Cody’s) mother. “MOM THANKS FOR NOT GIVING UP ON CODY AND THANKS FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF ME AND CODY”