By Michael Elliott ~
A Sporting Chance
Please forgive me for veering off the beaten sports path today. Oh, we’ll still get our fix in. A sporting event shall be portrayed and as is wont from this column, a part of rock-and-roll shall affix itself.
Granted, the latter subject matter is going to be somewhat of a stretch. Thank God for the rock part. Cody does!
Afghanistan. Helmond Province. June 6, 2011. United States Marine Lance Corporal Cody Elliott, my brother Gary’s grandson, and his support platoon are making their way towards lending backup for another platoon patrolling the area against the Taliban. In route, the company engineer (leader) sustains a mortal wound via an improvised explosive devise (IED). As Elliott runs to his leader’s aid he engages another invisible IED. The Central Coast native remembers coming to for a bit there at the site of human destruction. The 21-year old’s next recollection is of awakening at a military hospital in Germany for initial repairs to his war-ravaged body, wondering if he would ever see his grandpa again.
The general public is acutely aware of our country’s forages into war. Especially the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. As war rages and the newspaper headlines trumpet the activities, we all somewhat become jaded to what is actually taking place as it, unfortunately, becomes commonplace in our lives and minds. Until it hits close to home. Once a relative or friend is injured or has fallen in war, one is catapulted emotionally into the fray. It’s a terrible, helpless feeling.
Cody spent the next six months in the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. His list of injuries: amputation of left leg just above the knee; compound tibia and fibula fractures to his right leg; 50% of muscle and tissue lost on the right leg; dislocation of wrist on left hand; loss of index finger on left hand; jaw and orbital bone fractures; 2” wide x 8” long x ¼” deep permanent facial laceration on right cheek; approx. 30% hearing loss.
Family members took turns, if you will, going back to visit Cody in Bethesda. My daughter Savannah and I were fortunate to have been in Cody’s hospital room the day a high-ranking military official and his team presented Cody with the distinguished Purple Heart medal. It was a very emotional moment. Heartbreak overruled joy.
After the stay in Maryland Cody was flown to the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego for a two-month stay. He estimates that over 40 surgical procedures were administered overall, from the time of his accident until he left Balboa, in order to repair his body as best they could. Bless the boy.
For the next two years Cody attended grueling therapy sessions to learn how to walk again and was fitted for a prosthesis for his left leg. As you might expect, pain medication was a major part of his rehabilitation and Cody eventually had to go through a two week drying out period due to an addiction to the meds. The kid has more grit than a sheet of sandpaper.
Now, to the point of this column. I may be biased, but to me Cody symbolizes human resolve. He has resurrected his life and risen from the ashes like a Phoenix to find a purpose in his life. Instead of wallowing in pity or drowning out the injustices of his life with liquor he has taken pursuit of a sport which gives his life a new, fresh meaning–rock climbing!
Several months ago Cody and a friend went rock climbing on a lark in San Diego and he found his lot in life. He immersed himself in the event as it helped to promote his healing, physically as well as mentally. Locally he has climbed Madonna Mountain (or is it Mission Prep??) and Bishop’s Peak. He has competed in several adaptive (for the physically disabled) rock climbing competitions in Colorado and Wisconsin. He traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland for a competitive climb. In the Yosemite Valley he jugged (climbers parlance for scaled) the nose of El Capitan. This consisted of 32 pitches up the nose led by Cody’s climbing partner who also served in Afghanistan. Climbs in Bishop, CA and upper Nevada and Utah are on the horizon.
It is hopeful that the story of Cody’s new life shall be heard by others whom may be wounded physically or emotionally, and see that it is possible to pull themselves up off of the ground and to greet each day with a new, profound meaning. Perhaps to give oneself a sporting chance. Perhaps to find a better day and to run with it. Or climb it, as Cody has.
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