Cody McCasland – 10 Year Old Athlete Extraordinaire and Amputee

Have you ever given up on something because it was too hard?  Have you ever not tried something because you were afraid?  Have you not taken the time to think of a big goal you would like to accomplish in your life?

If so, there is a lot that you (and pretty much everyone else on earth) can learn from Cody McCasland.   Cody is a 10 year old and has no legs below his knees.  He was born with a rare birth defect called Sacral Agenesis that required for his legs to be amputated at the knee to give him a better chance at being able to move around.  Cody has gone through 20 surgeries and more than 20 sets of prosthetic legs in his short 10 years of life.

But, Cody doesn’t just move around now.  He is a multi-sport athlete, spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and one of the most inspiring people we’ve come across here at InspireMyKids. Cody now participates in horseback riding, gymnastics, t-ball, soccer, swimming, running, golf and have even flown a plane!  His dream is to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games for swimming.  This is something we will be watching closely.

No matter what else he does with his life, Cody’ s hard work, perseverance and amazing attitude is a great inspiration to us all.   Check out this video to learn more about Cody and his story:

Additional Resources:

• Learn about Cody’s organization Team Cody which benefits the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital that has helped Cody with his healthcare
• Watch other great IMK stories about children and adults that exhibit perseverance

Topics for Discussion:

• How does Cody’s attitude effect his life?
• What is a big goal that you have for your life?
• What is one thing you want to try to do now that you have seen what Cody can do?

Take Action:

• Think about a big goal that you have.  It could be for school, for family, or any other important area of your life.  Write it down, using this goal worksheet or create your own worksheet.  Keep track of your progress, stick with it and reward yourself when you have completed it.  Keep doing this and you will be surprised at how much you can achieve.
• Organize a fundraiser to support Team Cody
• Ask your parent of teach to contact Team Cody to see if he can visit your school or Skype with your class

Teacher Features:

• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
• Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.