Keep Kody at Project Walk Fund

On Memorial Day Weekend 2011, my 16 year old son, Kody Peraita, was at the beach when he hit his head on a sandbar while swimming in the ocean.  The force of the impact from the wave that took him under and slammed him into the sandbar shattered his C4 and fractured his C5 vertebraes, leaving him an incomplete quadripalegic.  After months of hospitalization and several surgeries, Kody began intense therapy at a place called "Project Walk," which is located in Carlsbad, CA.  "Project Walk" is considered one of the top rehabilitation facilities in the world for people with spinal cord injuries, and people suffering from paralysis travel from all around the world to attend "Project Walk," for rehabilitation.

Before the tragic day of May 27, 2011, Kody was a rising star in the world of baseball.  During his freshman year of high school, Kody was selected as the starting shortstop on the varsity baseball team, which was a huge honor.  Kody went through his freshman and sophomore years of high school doing well in both academics and baseball, and had hopes of playing college baseball one day, either on an academic or sports type scholarship.  At the end of Kody's sophomore year is when he had his life altering accident, crushing his dream of ever playing the sport he loved in college.  Now Kody struggles everyday to become more independent and re-learning to walk.  Even though Kody spends most of his days rehabiltating, whether at home on his own or at a facility, Kody has not given up on his dream of attending college, and studies hard for school.  But Kody wants to attend college as independently as possible.

Unfortunately for Kody, his mother (Kim) and I, the health insurance I have through my work does not cover the cost of thearpy Kody needs at "Project Walk."  We struggle everyday and have attempted many fundraisers, but they don't seem to cover Kody for the long term rehabilitation at "Project Walk," which costs $105.00 an hour.  We can't seem to do it on our own. Our goal as a family, is to try and raise enough money for Kody, to keep him enrolled at "Project Walk," for the long term, at least a full year.

In the past year, while rehabilitating Kody has begun to initate steps on his own.  From what his therapists and doctors have said to all of us is a great sign, and they have said Kody can accomplish his goal of learning how to walk again, for the second time in his life, the first being when he was a toddler.  With your help and genrousity Kody can continue his journey of trying to learn to walk again and become more independent, and can achieve his goal of attending college on his own.  Kim and I thank you very much for your help and are truly appreciative.

Tony Peraita

(a loving father)