Prosthetics help Texas boy step over the competition
IronKids race winner, 7, shares his story
SUSAN SIMPSON
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Published: August 11, 2009
MIDWEST CITY — Cody McCasland doesn’t get flustered easily, even when 200 children want to ask him questions.
"Does it hurt?” asks one boy about Cody’s prosthetic legs. No, unless he’s outgrowing his prosthetics, which must be replaced about every nine months. "Can you run?” Yes, says Cody, breaking into a sprint around the Midwest City YMCA gymnasium. "Can you hop on one foot?” asks another child. Cody quickly removes one of his prosthetics and hops energetically around the group of children, who clap and cheer. Cody is 7 years old. He was born without lower leg bones but with an excess of determination. The second-grader from Colleyville, Texas, spoke Monday to YMCA summer camp participants from across the metro area. On Sunday, Cody participated in his first three-sport event, the IronKids Oklahoma City Triathlon at Lake Hefner. He won in his category and will compete in a national event this fall. "It was a lot of fun,” Cody said of the triathlon. He uses his arms as propellers for swimming, pedals a handcycle and has donned customized running legs since he was 5. Another set of prosthetics is used for walking and features hand-drawn pictures of the No. 24 race car driven by his hero, Jeff Gordon. "I think people think he’s so disadvantaged, but he can do so much,” said Olivia Greenhoward, 12, of Edmond. "He can do anything we do,” echoed her friend Lorna Walker, also 12 and from Edmond. Tina McCasland said her son is "different,” not disabled. His legs were amputated when he was 15 months old so he could be fitted with prosthetics and not need a wheelchair. Cody volunteers for the Challenged Athletes Foundation and has been an inspiration to soldiers returning from war with limb injuries. Cody said he wants to be an anesthesiologist when he grows up, so he can help others feel better. His mom says he’ll reach any goal he sets. "He doesn’t let anything get in his way,” she said.
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Sports, Science and Technology, Technology, Health and Fitness, Medicine, Medical Technology, Medical Devices, Triathlon
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