Cody’s Fight So Far
As I hope you know, at Red Raider Dugout I try to cover Texas Tech Baseball as professionally as my limited skills allow. Generally, that means being more of a news outlet and less of an opinion source, but we also have built a platform thanks to all of you that stay interested. In the case of situations like that which Cody Fuller and his family are currently experiencing, our little platform here can be a positive part of the process of providing information and rallying the support of fellow Red Raiders.
I take cancer seriously, it is a heinous disease that I have worked professionally and as a volunteer fighting against through the American Cancer Society since 2010. We have all been impacted by cancer in some way, I lost my father after a five-month battle with brain cancer in 2019. During that time, I saw the value of community support through that process and I see Red Raiders rallying in the same way for Cody Fuller and his family.
I can tell you from my experience with my father’s battle that setbacks, disappointment, and confusion are part of the process. I wanted to provide some updates here as I have them in order to get all of you out there pulling for Cody on the same page. Below is something of a synopsis and a timeline of where Cody’s journey has taken him so far.
I have also updated the Red Raider Dugout Home Page with sections about Cody Fuller and Ray Hayward. Updated stories and information will remain there for easier access.
For those who wish to share stories about Cody or connect with the community supporting him directly, a Facebook page has been set up for that purpose HERE.
Who is Cody Fuller?
Cody was a two-sport athlete at Texas Tech in the early 2000s. In our original post about Cody’s battle (Cody Fuller Needs Red Raider Support), I outlined some of Cody’s athletics career at Texas Tech. A graduate of Smithson Valley High School, Cody married his high school sweetheart Cassie while they were students at Texas Tech. They have four children and have built a life dedicated to their community and more specifically to their faith.
“Cody’s only desire has been to teach people the love of Jesus Christ and his great promise,” said Cassie on Facebook. “I know in my heart that he will be a living testimony.”
Staying involved with baseball as a coach for the Alamo Drillers travel teams, the impact Cody has had on the communities he’s been a part of has been incredible to witness the last few weeks. Upon leaving their home near San Antonio for treatment in Houston, dozens of cars turned out to line the streets of their neighborhood with signs, honking car horns, and words of support. Read more about that HERE.
Through tributes on the Facebook page linked above it is apparent that Cody has touched lives through his faith throughout his life. One stuck out to me recently: 
The Battle
This information comes from public updates made by Cassie on the Facebook page linked above.
March 9: Cody went to the hospital with complaints of severe abdominal pain that had come and gone over the preceding weeks. He was unexpectedly diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and by the weekend was in aggressive treatment at the Salem Oncology Center in Houston, a private facility. As you probably know, the survivability rate of pancreatic cancer is extremely low and in Cody’s case, has metastasized to his liver as well.
March 10: Word began trickling through the Texas Tech Baseball community about the diagnosis. Our first story about Cody’s condition was posted, which included a link to Cody’s GoFundMe page. Due to receiving treatment from a private facility the costs are high and not covered by insurance. That story and the GoFundMe are here: Cody Fuller Needs Red Raider Support.
March 26: A liver biopsy revealed that his cancer is neuroendocrine, which accounts for 2% of pancreatic cancers but does generally have a better prognosis. There were early signs of positive progress as liver enzymes and bilirubin levels improved.
April 16: Cody’s abdomen became extremely distended and the initial fear is that it was due to ascites, which is excessive fluid retained in the abdomen. This could have indicated a worsening of his liver condition. However, it was found that Cody’s pain was due to an extreme intestinal blockage, something not uncommon during cancer treatment.
April 21: Cody’s scans show an 80% reduction in cancer from his initial scans. The black in the below picture shows cancer in his liver, the bottom photos are the initial scans.
April 23: Cody becomes very sick and the initial fear is that he is septic. His bowel has ruptured requiring a surgery to repair and another surgery to clean out his abdomen where the contents were leaking.
April 26: Cody takes a bad turn and based on the symptoms, the medical team believes cancer has invaded his stomach and stomach acid has deteriorated his esophagus. They believe that they have no further treatment options for him.
April 27: Cody and Cassie head home from Houston under palliative care. Cody plans to live out his remaining hours at home with friends and family close. We shared the following on social media and waited for further news. Friends poured in to say goodbye to Cody while they still had time and tributes poured in from every corner of the internet.
It’s with a heavy heart we report that Cody Fuller’s fight is coming to an end. The cancer has advanced to a point that Cody’s options for treatment have been exhausted.
Please keep Cody, Cassie, and their family in your prayers as they head home this evening on palliative care. pic.twitter.com/LujtWtNnCJ
— Red Raider Dugout (@RedRaiderDugout) April 27, 2022
April 29: Cody was not expected to see April 29, much less the 30th. He remained fully aware during his time at home and, believing a miracle was coming asked his pastor to remain there to witness it and to stay overnight that Friday. His family sat up overnight with him and they took communion together.
April 30 – Morning: Cassie received a call from a nurse who said she didn’t believe Cody’s fight was over yet. Cassie spoke with the oncologist that morning and he was amazed Cody was still alive based on the bleeding he’d been experiencing and the sepsis that should have set in.
April 30 – Noon: Cody’s family raced him back to Houston. The medical team located the cause of the symptoms that made them believe Cody’s stomach and esophagus were compromised. They begin to develop a new treatment plan to help Cody regain his strength and to heal.
May 1: Cody is stable. His oncologists are committed to his treatment but Cassie is working to convince the rest of his medical team to believe in the fight. Cody’s body needs time to heal and strengthen before cancer treatment can continue. Cody will begin receiving intravenous nutrition, he is on oxygen, and his scans indicate the cancer is not currently progressing.
May 2: Cody remains stable but he has challenges. There is fluid in his abdomen so there will be two drains installed. The fluid causes various complications and once it is drained, the team can begin aggressively treating his surgery wounds. Additionally, the lower lobes of both of his lungs have collapsed, but he continues to fight back. New scans show that despite not having treatment for almost a month due to setbacks, his cancer continues to diminish. Cody has seen a 90% response to treatment so far.
May 5: Cody is still battling an infection and there was some fluid in his abdomen that doctors had trouble reaching. He also hemorrhaged today and was moved back to ICU where he received blood and was stabilized. There is a blessing in disguise with this. Because of the move, the last doctor that believed Cody was beyond healing is no longer on his service. Cassie has fought a battle of belief with the medical team and now has a group of doctors devoted and believing that Cody can and will be able to recover.
May 9: After dealing with multiple setbacks related to excessive bleeding, Cody and his family made the decision to go back home. Cassie posted on May 11 about that decision explaining that while Cody has fought hard for her and their family, the time has come to accept that there is nothing else medicine can do for him. Cody’s time is limited and he is awake enough to speak to those nearby and say goodbyes.
“Take care of my family, spread the gospel, be steadfast.” – Cody
May 15: Cody’s journey came to an end. His friends and family will celebrate his life Thursday, May 19 at Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio at 1:00 pm. Guests are asked to wear white.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7 pic.twitter.com/UPhzAQFp3M— Red Raider Dugout (@RedRaiderDugout) May 15, 2022
How to Support
Purchase shirts HERE, all proceeds benefit the family.
