Last Thursday, our dear friend Sheila experienced the unimaginable loss of her son, Kody. A loss no parent should ever have to endure.

We know that in many ways - Kody was the heart of his family. A trickster with a big laugh, a loving soul, and the apple of his mom’s eye. He was deeply cherished by his sisters, Mishelle (Chris) and Shelby (Grant), his nieces Lexie and Paige, nephew Theo, and his grandparents John, Linda & Terry and numerous other family and friends. His presence filled rooms and his life touched many.

Like many families who love someone navigating addiction, there was always hope. Hope for healing. Hope for recovery. Hope for more time. Until last week, that hope was still very much alive.

Sheila shared these words:

“Thursday morning, my amazing son Kody passed, and my world stopped. He was my biggest hero… His presence mattered. His life mattered. A piece of my heart has been broken open, and it will always belong to him.”

It can be incredibly hard to ask for help. Many of us struggle with that at different times in our lives. And when it comes to our children, moms especially try to carry it all. But none of us are meant to do this alone - we all need a village. This is one way we can gently step in and support them.

This fundraiser has been created to help ease the financial impact of funeral and memorial expenses, so Sheila, Mishelle, Shelby and their family can focus on grieving, remembering, and honoring Kody without the added weight of unexpected costs at the time of such a profound loss.

Any contribution, big or small, will go directly toward helping to give Kody the memorial he deserves and supporting Sheila and her family through this devastating time. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page is deeply appreciated.

We are so much stronger together. We know that Sheila and family are grateful for all the ways their community has already shown up for them. Let’s continue to come together and surround this family with care, love and compassion. Grief is not an event, it’s a process.

Thank you all for your support, love, and more. There are no words.