Cody and Mary's dreams of growing old together were shattered when doctors said there was nothing more they could do for Cody at the hospital. He was sent home to die. With little time left, Cody's family scrambled to grant his last wish. Before leaving to meet Jesus, the dying man wed Mary, the love of his life.
Credit: LW Photography
Cody and Mary's love story is unlike most. The high school sweethearts knew they'd get married one day. They just didn't expect their time as husband and wife to be so short.
Cody Phillips faced death for the first time at 15 years old. He was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) and given only 24 hours to live.
"All his dreams to graduate high school, have children, enjoy his hobby of riding dirt bikes, and to become the man he was set here to be was a dream," it says on Cody's GoFundMe page.
But God wasn't done!
A Little More Time
In 2012, Cody received a double lung transplant, blessing him with several more years to fulfill the dreams he had for his life.
Soon after the successful transplant, Cody met Mary. The couple enjoyed two beautiful years of being teenagers in love. Then, in 2015, they found out they were pregnant with a little boy -- Christian Luke Phillips.
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But then in December of 2016, Cody's body began rejecting his transplanted lungs. He fought hard, and there were days as though he seemed to be getting better. But it was only temporary. Finally doctors said there was nothing more to be done.
Making The Most Of The Final Days
Credit: LW Photography
Cody was sent home and put in hospice care. He and Mary had been planning a wedding for 2018. But now, Cody had just a little time left. And his last wish before leaving to meet Jesus was to marry the love of his life.
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And so, the dying man wed his sweet Mary. They said their "I do's" as Cody's body was shutting down. And though it wasn't quite the ceremony for which they'd hoped, it was magical in its own way.
"Beauty and love were everywhere. The driveway was packed with cars and people -- so many people who care and love Cody and Mary so very much," read a Facebook post accompanying the wedding photos.
Less than two weeks later, Cody found healing in Heaven. But he left this world having accomplished more than he ever thought possible when he received his diagnosis at fifteen.
Four extra years will never feel like enough time for those who love and miss Cody. But so much joy and love filled those years. And it was long enough for Cody to leave his mark on this world -- to fulfill the special purpose God had for him.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4
h/t: Godupdates
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