Cody’s Event Slide Show

So I saw an other AFAF recipient (thanks Smith family for the idea!) post their slide show and thought I should also..cause 1- I barely remembered it from that night and 2- I know many others that are close to us would like to see it again.

Thanks again to all those that truly helped us out that day and everyday since.

Updated For Thoughts??

Well I should be in bed at the moment, in a matter of a few hours we are headed somewhere that is so much deserved for Cody.  We are going to Lake Powell, and so excited to be with family and just have a great time.  We get the opportunity to have a special vacation to create good memories, to help us endure what is to come.  Yes granted we will be ready to be home( there will be 29 “Anderson’s on one house boat!)  But still so excited about the trip.
Recently Cody went in for a MRI and MRCP – routine procedures while on the wait list.  Pretty much they are cancer scans to verify that there is still no cancer and also to check progress of how the Liver is doing.  It is hard that for those that do find cancer, they have to solve the Cancer before they can be “back on the list”  If something like that happens then you are put on a hold status till cancer free.  Seems rough! We still have not gotten results, but where Cody’s MELD score is lower they focus on patients according to their score and also no news is good news.  But it is still its hard where we will be out of town might miss the call  Other Doc appointments have all turned out good nothing to worry too much about.   And Cody overall feeling okay, he has his days.  I have noticed the fatigue is getting him more now, but he still will wrestle with the boys, take them on four wheeler rides,  and just being the great Dad that he is…Sometimes its hard to watch them cause one day he wont be able to do that…The times I think of it is at nights after family prayer they all have just a sweet moment that will be terribly missed when the time comes that they will be apart for who knows how long.  Breaks my heart for all 3 of them.  I just keep trying to tell myself that he will feel better one day and be able to do it even BETTER in the future to make up for lost time.
Its funny how our life has changed in so many ways these past 8 months I look at it and ponder about it.  One experience that has really changed is how we are treated… I am still trying to decide if all of it is good?  Or Bad?  Its really hard to explain, it is almost frustrating how some people almost act differently to us now??  I don’t know! Just can not explain it.  Cause I think we just are told and/or not told in light of our circumstances?  One thing that I have loved though is knowing how many people do love and care for us.  It is amazing how you can only meet some people just once for an instance and you already care for the well being of them, and them for us.  We have met so many amazing people in our life that are only enriching our lives and many others too.   Sorry such a bum post but wanted to give an update but needed to get my thoughts out??  Love to all, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.  luv always – A

Our Definition OF Friends

This is a photo of Cody and his best friends, they all came to support Cody at the Event.

I wish this photo was better quality but is not but to us it is still worth more then a million words!    These Men are amazing!  All I had to do was ask, they were there with everything I needed and a lot more.  In the beginning it was really hard for Cody to ask for help with the fundraiser.  But we both knew that we wanted his friends involved I called them and they were so willing to be there for me.  Not only them but their wives/significant others too!  If it was not for them I do not know how parts of the Event would have worked out.  They did it, they helped us have the success that Cody deserved.
Its funny how when I first met Cody I found it so odd that he was still bestest friends with those from his childhood, they were really too good of friends!  They have all been through a lot together and will still be together through thick and thin.  But now after 9 years of knowing them I call them some of my own, best friends.  They were and are there for us.  I remember last time we dealt with Cody’s illness when he was not able to work prior to his big surgery I sat and bawled my eyes out to one of them of my concerns my stress and anxieties over everything and he simply just asked: ” What can I do Amy?  Tell me what you need?  I will do it.”  Simple as that I told him, and he was there.  Not to mention the next time and the time after that, and still last December when this all started unraveling again he was there not alone but in ten fold with all their friends to help Cody through this rough battle that we call life.
So this is a special thanks to those that I know do not want to be named but you know who you are.  You have helped make this journey more bearable knowing you will be there when I need you to be there for Cody thank you from the bottom of my heart.   You are the true definition of what a Friend is.
Lots of Love and Gratitude  -A-

This poem was written for Cody and I.  It was read to us the night of the event, by Brenda Smith (she was the only one that could have held the emotions in)  My dear sweet Aunt/Cousin had it written for us by a friend, just by someone reading my jumbling of words from this blog.

A Softer Way To Land

In a spinning rush of swirling air

A free-fall; building speed.

Suddenly the world goes quiet-

At the point of greatest need.

Looking up there is a parachute-

A softer way to land,

And he rides the gentle wind to earth

On its freely offered hand.

Many days have passed uncertainly

Too many nights in sleepless fear-

But when darkness seemed to smother,

Friends arrived- the way to clear.

A Dentist with a loving hand –

To ease a crushing weight,

And family who could take the kids –

And not even hesitate.

When health can be elusive,

And the patience starts to thin-

A loving wife with quiet strength

Has been there to pull him in.

Waiting fills their waking hours –

And like a thief it steals their sleep,

And yet with tender mercy –

A host of hands, their vigil keep.

Now the wait for Cody’s lifeline

May seem much too hard to bear –

And to those who may stand watching,

The path he walks may not seem fair.

Yet he and Amy know a secret,

That not all are blessed to know;

That the hands of love extended,

Only cause their faith to grow.

Now the parachute will carry them,

And lead them gently to the ground-

To wrap them warmly in the miracle

Where love and hope is always found.

–Vicki B Wright

*May 31, 2011