Cody Gilbert was burned in a house fire in Baltimore on February 2, 2011. He turned 21 the next day in the burn unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was burned over 90% of his body and was given little chance of survival. Cody survived. The National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), released an article on August 6, 2015 entitled “Cody” which graphically details his injuries, treatment and survival. This is a link to the article https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4532175/

I met Cody in September 2025 while shopping with my wife Willa at the Ellicott City Walmart near Rt 29 and Rt 40. Cody stood at the red light near the left turn onto N. Ridge Rd. He was asking for money as he is seen doing in the three photos taken on Feb 14 - Valentine's Day. It was obvious he had been in a catastrophic fire, with scar tissue on every visible part of his face, scalp, legs, and arms. He walked with a limp. Because I shop regularly with Willa at Walmart, I saw Cody regularly at the red light. After the fifth or sixth time I asked him his name and later asked for his phone number. Our conversations were brief – only as long as the light stayed red. I learned he was homeless and stayed in the Pigtown neighborhood in Baltimore with an acquaintance. Two days before Christmas Eve I invited Cody to the 7pm Christmas Eve service at Glen Mar Church. He accepted, and he attended with Willa and me. He could not remember having attended a Christmas Eve service before. Cody is 36 years old.

After 18 months in the hospital, which included 60 operations and transfusions of 160 units of blood, Cody was moved to a rehab facility where he spent two years. After he was discharged, he eventually became homeless and says he has been homeless for the last ten years.

The photo is of me and Cody at Walmart on Friday February 6, 2026. Three men, self-dubbed “Team Cody”, who all met Cody while panhandling, and who also met in person for the first time on February 6, bought him some footwear and other clothes. Because of the wrapping on his left foot, he needed a size 12 for the left foot and size 9 for the right foot. Cody’s physical needs, such as stable housing, food, appropriate clothing, etc., are complicated by ongoing health problems, especially his legs and feet. Cody receives wound care for his legs and feet at Johns Hopkins twice a week. Cody has been advised that if the wounds do not heal within the next year, he may need to have one leg amputated.

Cody was fortunate to meet a dentist from Catonsville while panhandling. The dentist has removed seven of Cody’s teeth pro bono in the last three months. Prior to that, Cody had not had dental care for over a decade. Cody will need all his upper teeth pulled and then dentures. Cody will be evaluated soon to help determine the best long-term course of action.

Cody’s financial needs are prioritized as 1) a comprehensive dental plan, 2) rent for an apartment (one year), 3) clothing and food, 4) long-term mental health counseling, 5) money for transportation (Uber, Lyft) for appointments, and 6) job/vocational training. Cody also has spiritual needs that the third member of Team Cody – Nelson LeRoy – is trying to meet with his open invitation to go with him to services at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Ellicott City, an offer which Cody has accepted several times but has a hard time making a priority because of his other basic needs (housing, food, rest, and transportation). One of Cody’s long-term goals is to get a normal job and be self-sufficient, but his short-term needs include adequate money for stable housing, which will help him get physically better and on the road to self-sufficiency.

If you read the NIH story about Cody, you will see a pre-fire picture of a handsome high school senior where he was an athlete and scholar. Without knowing precisely what Cody’s financial needs are, we have set a modest goal which will pay for whatever dental care plan is selected, allow him to move to a permanent housing situation for a year, and keep him off the corner. Finally, if you live in Maryland, and would like to meet Cody, he is an inspirational and engaging young man with a surprisingly positive attitude – he is also a man with a grateful heart. Please contact me to find the best way to introduce you to Cody.