Community Rallies to Help Westerville Central’s Cody Meyer

11/9/2012

Saturday, August 25, started out as a day of fun for 16 year old Cody Meyer. No one could ever have imagined how it would end. Meyer and some friends were riding ATV’s and a UTV in the country. When it started to get dark, they headed back to the cabin for some pizza when the UTV Meyer was driving went off the side of a path and flipped down a hill, at some point rolling over his leg. By the next day, his leg had swollen to more than twice its normal size so his parents took him to OhioHealth Emergency Care in Westerville, where concerns of something called “Compartment Syndrome” were expressed. He was immediately transferred to a trauma unit at Grant Hospital. X-rays revealed that he had a tibial plateau fracture, but his leg was too swollen to cast. They sent him home with instructions to stay off the leg and he was referred to additional specialists for treatment. Five weeks had past when open wounds started to appear on his calf and it was determined that he had developed a massive infection. Over a period of 10 days, Meyer underwent seven surgeries, was moved to four different areas of the hospital and spent three days in the Intensive Care Unit. He will require months and possibly years of physical therapy in order to be able to put weight on his leg. He will remain bedridden until skin grafts are completely healed and he will miss most, if not all, of his Junior Year at Westerville Central High School. Tough news for a starter on the varsity football team and baseball team.

The silver lining in this dark cloud of events has been the outpouring of support for Meyer and his family. Hundreds of people have started prayer circles and dozens of fund raising events have been held to offset medical expenses – not just at Westerville Central, but throughout the district and community. All three high schools have come together to help, private community members have pitched in, and students and staff at Genoa Middle School and Fouse Elementary have hosted fund-raising drives. The Meyer family is deeply grateful for the overwhelming love, support, prayers and contributions they have received. To learn more or to donate, please visit
www.everypenny.com/WCSOH/centralhs/WCABC/Pleasehelpcodymeyer.