"Winning Kids"
Chosen to Represent all
Idaho Children With Epilepsy

Cody Lumley, Idaho’s Winning Kid for
2002-2003, is a Winner All the Way

When Reneé Lumley, Cody’s mom, brought in the scrap book the Lumley family was submitting as Cody’s nomination for national “Winning Kid,” it was easy to think that this was going to be it. The book included not only wonderful photos of Cody over the years, but a simple yet eloquent narrative written by Reneé. The story of Cody’s surgeries for a brain tumor, his subsequent therapies, his trials with many medications, his struggles at school, his triumphs, his setbacks, were all chronicled with love and humor and an honesty that told the true story of one family’s journey. This was surely a winner. This scrapbook would win the hearts of the selection committee at the national Epilepsy Foundation. And our instincts were right. National called the EFI office in Boise to break the news.

Cody, Idaho’s own “Winning Kid” for 2002-2003, had been choosen to represent all United States children with epilepsy. He would be recognized at the National Epilepsy Conference in Orlando, Florida at the October 11 awards dinner and program. Cody, you are a WINNER, a winner for all children with epilepsy and a winner for everyone whose life is touched by a seizure disorder. Congratulations! May this year and all your future years bring you many triumphs and joys.

“Cody has won the fight. He has won the fight for his life.” This is how Mom, Reneé, describes her seven year old son, Cody, who was diagnosed with epilepsy, caused by a brain tumor in November 1998. After two surgeries to remove the tumor, and a subsequent cerebral bleed, the insult to his brain caused damage, and Cody had to relearn how to walk and talk. “He now talks non-stop and runs right along with the other kids. This demon-strates that Cody’s desire to win is stronger than his frustration.”

Cody has won the big battle, but he has to work every day at the little ones. De-velopmentally, he is about two years be-hind his chronological age. He has to work extra hard at school to make sure that he learns all that he can. His meds make him sleepy, and everyday he works to maintain his funny disposition. He has recently learned to ride his bike without the training wheels. This summer he played Challenger Baseball. When a neighbor asked if his team won, he told her that where he plays, everyone is a winner. And that’s Cody, a winner for sure. Winning for him is a hug and being told he has done a good job!

Not only does Cody win the big and small battles, but also he wins the hearts of others with his smile and friendly nature. Mom and Dad report that, “Cody even walked up to the Governor of Idaho Dirk Kempthorne and introduced himself. When the governor gave Cody his name, he replied, “Dirt, that’s a funny name.”

Cody and his Mom and Dad will spend time with the Governor this November when they visit his office at the state capitol for the Epilepsy Month proclamation signing. Also this fall, Cody, a first grader at Eagle Hill Elementary School, will be recognized and honored with a presentation of a Kids on the Block puppet show. In February, the Lumleys will be special guests at the annual black-tie dinner, The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

It will be a winning year for a very special “Winning Kid,” Idaho’s one and only Cody Lumley. As Mom says of his big and small victories, “He’s winning for himself and for the Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho.”