Newswise — Although Cody McCasland is only 7 years old, he has already decided on a profession. He wants to become an anesthesiologist. While most children his age can't pronounce the word, Cody is very familiar with it, having gone through 18 surgeries in his young life.
Cody was born with a rare birth defect called Sacral Agenesis that caused his legs to form without tibias and knees. He received his first prostheses around 17 months of age.
His choice of profession is by no means random. When asked why he wants to be an anesthesiologist, he replied, "They put in the IV and I want to make sure people do not hurt when they need to have surgery."
Cody's parents, Mike and Tina McCasland, explain that his choice of profession was primarily due to the nurturing relationship Cody had with his own anesthesiologist, Amy Hogge, M.D.
Dr. Hogge worked with Cody in such a loving and playful manner, that he was never afraid when he had to go in for surgery or a procedure, which was a great comfort for his parents.
Cody and his parents were determined that he should live as normal a life as possible. With the tremendous support the family received from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, in Dallas, Cody is able to do just that. With the aid of three different sets of prostheses, he is able to swim, ride horses, and play soccer and golf.
He has even competed in the University of Central Oklahoma Endeavor Games and earned five gold medals within 2007 and 2008. He also hopes to complete a triathlon in the not too distant future and eventually represent the USA in the Olympics or Paralympics.
To help raise money for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, family members and friends formed "Team Cody" in 2004. To date, they have raised over $85,000 for the hospital and around $5,0000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation through marathons and other fundraisers. As Cody puts it, "It's nice to raise money to give back to others that help me. I like it."
Despite his young age, Cody speaks to others in the community regarding his limb difference and promotes both the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. When asked about speaking in front of others Cody said "I like to talk to people about myself and being an amputee. It makes me feel good that I am special."
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is a world leader in the treatment of pediatric orthopedic conditions and has treated more than 180,000 children since its inception in 1921. All services are provided without charge to patient families.
The hospital relies solely on public support to continue its mission. Donations can be made online or through the Development Department by mail or phone. For more information, call the Development Department at 214-559-7650 or 800-421-1121 x 7650 or contact them by email at [email protected].
If you would like more information on Team Cody visit their website at http://www.teamcody.com.
Anesthesiologists: Physicians providing the lifeline of modern medicine. Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists is an educational, research and scientific association with 43,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve the care of the patient.
For more information visit the ASA Web site at http://www.asahq.org.
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