Because we feel we have no more hope left, and because we feel it would be an injustice not to tell his story, we hope that you will read about Cody Cordellos, who lives right here in Sonoma.
Cody is going to be 27 this month, but he has never climbed a tree, played baseball or even had a tight hug. He lives with epidermolysis bullosa, also known as EB, an extremely painful and debilitating skin disease that causes his skin to break and blister at the slightest touch. Cody was born with dystrophic EB, which is just as similar and painful to having third-degree burns over your entire body 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but with no healing or relief. Over the years, his skin has repeatedly rubbed off, causing disfigurement. The disease eventually leads to skin cancer and early death.
Cody is unable to do many of the things an average person his age can do, but he recently acquired one thing that he so longed for: his independence.
Throughout his life, Cody has bounced around from one home to another. Until almost four years ago, Cody was living in an older, very rundown trailer on the back of someone’s property.
In 2008, Cody moved to a nice little apartment, and for the very first time in his life gained the independence he so longed for. Needless to say, it has been an enormous commitment to make the monthly rent payments. There have been fundraisers to raise money for Cody’s expenses, but there just isn’t enough to cover it all.
Cody was served with eviction papers at the beginning of December, and by the end of the month, he will have to leave. He has nowhere to go. Cody has been on a waiting list for almost four years for Section 8 housing. We hope that you can find it your heart to help. Even if it can’t be you, maybe you know of someone who would be willing to help.
Donations can be made to Cody Cordellos c/o the Butterfly Fund,P.O. Box 235, El Verano, Calif., 95433.
Open Mic is a weekly feature in the Bohemian. We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write [email protected].
