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Cody's Story

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Cody Carlson was born on October 13, 1991. After attending school in Moorhead, he graduated from Moorhead High School in 2010.  Growing up, Cody spent time working with and for his Dad,  Aric, pouring concrete and doing various duties at his catering company. He spent a lot of time at his Grandparents lake home with his Dad's side of the family and all of the  Canadian relatives that he loves so much.   He enjoyed playing co-ed softball with his many friends in Sabin, MN but his heart and soul was playing football for the Moorhead Spuds Football Team.  He was a very hard worker and was a well disciplined athlete. He strived to be the best at what he did and was looking forward to attending college to play football. Cody was also very well known for his sense of humor, making everyone laugh, and for brightening other peoples days.
  Cody suffered his first major concussion at the age of 14.  After that concussion, and with each subsequent one, his personality and attitude changed. During his 2009 senior year season after suffering a leg injury, a back injury, and his 5th concussion during a game, his coaches would no longer allow him to play, and his doctor advised him to quit playing football in order to avoid further severe injury.
Cody was devastated.  Football was his life, and after being told that he could no longer play, he was lost. He didn't know what he was going to do. His mother discussed different options with him at length and suggested that he attend college to go into sports medicine, coaching or training, which would enable him to still be active in football. However, for Cody, those options weren't the same; It wasn't enough for him.
 Cody began to drift off course, and turned to drinking and drugs to numb the pain.  He had trouble at work, with his friends, at home as well as in his relationships. He had changed.
  His drinking got so out of control after he turned 21, he was hospitaized on two separate occasions for pancreatitis. He had seizures, caused by the drinking, which made his doctor suspend his drivers license. Doctors made several recommendations for treatment and counseling, which Cody declined. 
   He couldn't maintain a job or a place to live.  He began to lie, cheat, and steal from those who loved him the most.  Numerous conversations and tough love from family members was not enough to convince him to seek the help he needed.  Due to a DWI and Driving Under Suspension, he was placed on an alcohol monitor and ordered to report to the local Police Department once a week, but that and the threat of jail time was still was not enough for Cody to seek help. He had yet to find his rock bottom.
  The night of September 1, 2014 his mother receieved the phone call that every parent dreads.  The call saying that Cody was being transported to Essentia Health in Fargo, due to an overdose of China White heroin.   After numerous doses of Narcan and CPR, he was brought back to life. Cody was breathing on his own for several days, until he began having uncontrollable seizures.  He had to be put on Propofol to stop the seizures, and because of that medication, he also had to be put on a ventilator.   He was transported by Life-Flight to the U of M in Minneapolis after 7 days to undergo further testing. The tests and scans showed that he had sustained an extensive Traumatic Brain Injury due to the overdose.  Doctors inserted a feeding tube and tracheostomy,  in preparation for the long term recovery period.
 On September 25, 2014  he was transferred to Bethesda Medical Center in St. Paul and has been in their care for the past 7 months. He has had numerous infections and a Port-a-cath was put into his chest for easier access for medications, blood draws, and the continuous I.V. fluids that he requires.  Soon he will be transferred to a facility closer to home for a brief time, until the family can get the arrangements made and the necessary equipment in place to bring him home to be cared for there, due to his high risk of infections.
No one knows how much Cody will recover from this.  Over the last 2 months, he has been much more aware, alert, and he has been responding to commands,  We just have to take things one day at a time, remember to breathe,  say a lot of prayers, hope for the best, and take what we get.  We love him no matter what.


His mother, Jody Lien, has been by his side for the past several months, and his grandmother Corinne has been at his side every minute that she can.  A pulse/oximeter monitor was purchased to monitor Cody in the nursing facility 24/7. This will allow Jody to come home, to rest and recharge and be with her family and friends that have stood behind her through this tragic ordeal. The family has had out of pocket expenses for travel, food and lodging over the past several months and will have more when Cody is transferred to the nursing facility, 50 miles from home.
  We are asking for the publics assistance and are also asking people to share this story.  Know that depression and addiction are diseases, just like cancer or diabetes.  Don't take it personally.  They are not doing this to hurt you. Say your prayers.  A Lot.  Hug your kids and family members often, and make sure that they know that you always love and support them, even if you don't like what they're doing at the time. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help, no matter what the circumstances are, it is a sign of strength.  Talk to your children and families about the importance of being responsible and accountable for their actions and the decisions that they make in life.  The time to love is short.
  The pain and the heartache this has caused has been unbearable at times. We did not know that this kind of pain even existed until this.  It turns a loving family inside out emotionally and upside down financially.  It is with a heavy heart we ask for your support and prayers, for Cody and his family through this very difficult time. Thank You.
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    Jody Lien
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    Hawley, MN

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