“We were getting ready to go hunting,” Cody remembers of that Dec. 12 afternoon, “and I came in from the back through this door, and I was talking, and before I knew it, the gun went off. I just remember stepping back and laying down. I tried to get back up ... I couldn’t.”
The blow from the 30-30 rifle destroyed the Clinton High School student’s right hip, however, the family says that they are counting their blessings because the accident could have been a whole lot worse.
The young man was shot by his friend in what has been called an unfortunate accident.
“When I walked into the room, the gun was actually pointed at my chest,” Cody said. “When it went off, my leg kind of came up off the ground and I went back right away. I couldn’t get up and I told him to call 911 right away.”
If it wasn’t for the quick response of his older brother, Glenn Jr., Cody may not have lived through the night, family members say.
“I credit him for saving my life,” Cody said. “He is the one that grabbed a towel and stopped the bleeding. I could have bled to death right there on the floor.”
His brother shakes off any hero talk.
“I just did what came naturally to me,” he said. “I came in, saw him there bleeding and I reacted to it. We had to wait about 15 minutes until the ambulance got here, and when it did, they (EMS workers) just pushed me aside to get to him.”
Cody was transported to Sampson Regional Medical Center in Clinton, then transported by helicopter to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.
He was there eight days and suffered through two surgeries — one to get the gunshot out and the other to try and build his hip back.
“They said his hipbone was like sawdust,” said Cody’s father Glenn Simmons Sr., who owns Glenn Simmons and Sons Drywall. “They gave him two operations in Chapel Hill. The doctors were hoping that because he was so young the pins would fuse and help the hip back, but we don’t know if that is going to happen. Right now, we have to wait and see.”
The trauma of the accident has left Cody in a wheelchair and the family expecting thousands of dollars in bills, not to mention the many appointments and therapy he will need in his recovery.
According to friend Donald Hopkins, the family tried to get assistance from three local groups to help build a wheelchair ramp, but were turned down because of the young boy’s age. Hopkins said he is hoping to get a fund raising going to help with the family’s medical expenses.
A makeshift ramp was made at their home to accommodate Cody’s wheel chair, but it is too steep for Cody.
“That is just a temporary ramp,” said Glenn Sr. “We are going to try to get a bigger one because we expect that he will be in the chair for sometime, one that isn’t as steep.”
“It is a hard time right now, but we are going to try and get through it the best we can,” said Cody’s mother Sarah. “We would appreciate any help anyone is willing to give. We appreciate any help.”
But through it all, the family has clung to their faith and belief in God, as well as each other.
“It was a terrible time for us,” Sarah added. “It could have been a lot worse, and I thank God that he made it through.”
Although doctors told Cody that he would probably have a limp for the rest of his life, the 15-year-old said he holds no ill will towards his friend who shot him.
“I hold no hard feelings against him,” Cody said. “It was an accident. I think he was trying to put it up and he hit the trigger when it went off.”
Sarah said that if there is anyone carrying a weapon, safety should always be first.
“You have to be careful when you are around guns,” said Sarah. “I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what we have gone through.”
For more information on how to help the family call 910-592-7919
To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.
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