‘Cody’ continued from page 9
Cody’s first surgery was a success. He had the hole in his heart patched and an artificial valve was attached to his heart. His recovery was excellent and we eventually came home with a healthy baby boy. With each day, Cody continued to get stronger and healthier. By the time he was three years old, he had outgrown the artificial valve that he had received as a newborn. In August 1987, another openheart surgery was completed and went perfectly. Cody thrived and was a normal boy that played sports. He did everything that he was big enough to do. However, at the age of 13, it was time to replace the valve again. In July 1997, the third open-heart surgery was performed; again it was a total success. He continued his education, graduating from Ola High School in May 2003. ‘Nightmare’ continued from page 17
a good night’s sleep. Oh, and I probably should mention that our home was built in the 1800s, was the original stagecoach stop in Lamar, and is rumored to have been a speakeasy, and a jail at one time. ‘There is a Confederate/Civil War cemetery on our land about 200 yards to the back side of our house and a old-thick rock building that historians say was the original kitchen. I hope this helps paint the picture of what we have been going through. If you can help, please contact me ASAP! Sincerely, Jaime Shea.’ Mid-January 2007. We have just completed twelve hours of interviews. Telling and re-telling our events to the director of the Discovery Channel series, “A Haunting”. Ben, Tori, Bridger, and I sat in our crowded duplex apartment–turned TV studio-for-the-day. We had lived in Joplin, Missouri for six months when we got the call from the production company.
“Cody has been such a blessing and inspiration to our whole family,” says his mom. “He has always worked, even in high school. He could be on disability but he refuses. He celebrated his 23rd birthday on August 15th. He is a very independent adult who lives alone and works full time at Kroger on South Arkansas in Russellville, but his greatest interest is playing music.” Cody enjoys playing guitar with his church group, Centerville Assembly of God Church. He has three younger siblings -Austin Young, and Holly and Brett Young. “To see and talk to Cody you would think ‘he is just an ordinary guy, living an ordinary life’ but what lies beneath would amaze a lot of people. He is tough and has been a fighter since the day he was born!” “He is very special and we (his family) are so thankful to have him everyday. Going through something like this really makes you appreciate everyday we all have together
For twelve hours we relived moving in, the ghosts, the CASPR investigation, the cleansing, the wreck, the putting-thehouse-up-for-sale-dilemma, and ultimately the move. It all seems so surreal. In a strange way I miss that house. May 15, 2007. The third set of renters have officially moved out of our Lamar house. The listing on our home expired with not even a good bite from a potential buyer. The renovations are nearly complete. I want my house back. This time we will only put good vibes into this house. We will rely on God for comfort and protection. We will make it work – financially, we have no choice. September 18, 2007. We’re back. Ben and I officially unpacked our last box (and shoved the rest in the shed). Sunk exhausted in our easy chairs. It’s 2 a.m. and the house has been quiet for the most part. Except for the occasional stomp, bounce, creek, thump, and the episodic blasts of
and we treasure each day!” adds his mom. According to his mother, Cody has not had insurance since he turned 18 years old. He continues to go for yearly check-ups with his cardiologist and knows another surgery will have to take place at some time in the future. A July visit to his doctor revealed that his heart valve is still working fine. “Cody’s story is a reminder that heart disease knows NO AGE LIMIT! Donations given to the American Heart Association are truly SAVING LIVES,” said Lisa Young. “I hope everyone continues to do all they can to fight heart disease because anyone can be affected. It could just as easily affect a baby or grandbaby as it could happen to a parent or grandparent. -- Information supplied by Lisa Young For additional information on truncus arteriosus and other “Learn and Live” suggestions for fighting heart disease from the American Heart Association, go online to: www.americanheart.org.
unexplained musical scores from the next room, life is pretty normal. I feel a strange sense of peace with the house. I think we all do. We have come to accept our “spirit friends” as extended family (that I don’t have to feed). In fact, the kids are getting along better than ever! I mean why wouldn’t they? When the neighbor’s pet gerbil ends up fully baked in our microwave, my favorite vase gets smashed by a Nerf football, or my husband’s cell phone is found floating in the bath water – instead of blaming each other, they bat their lashes, grin and exclaim, “Maybe the ghosts did it.” For more information on any of the people, places or things in Jaime’s story, check out: casprquest. com or spiritseekers.org. Their home was featured Sept. 21 on the Discovery Channel. Jamie feels “A Haunting,” which features the Shea home in the “Where Evil Lurks Episode” seems blown ‘way out of porportion: “I suspect the episode to be about 75% based on our true stories, and I do not consider our lovely home ‘Evil.’”
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