Brain injury recovery video

This video was made by my dad, Dr. Veteto.

(This is an article copied from the November 2007 issue of Tulsa, Oklahoma magazine "Community Spirit")
BEING THANKFUL
Cody Veteto: Thankful For Life

A 19 year-old Cody Veteto stood at the top of the ski lift, pulled out his cell phone and called his mom to tell her how much fun he was having.

''I'm standing on top of a mountain!'' he told her as he hung up.
Minutes later, while snowboarding with a friend through a band of trees, Cody had an accident that could have, probably should have, taken his life. The Winter Park Ski Resort got him down off the mountain and he was airlifted to a Denver hospital. Cody's brain injury was so bad, Doctors were shocked to find out he was actually wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. They gave his father, Dr. Ken Veteto, a Tulsa Internal Medicine Doctor, a very gloomy prognosis.
Cody's parents, family and friends gathered around him. Prayer teams immediately formed from churches in Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado, as well as from Abilene Christian University where Cody attended school. Against all odds and reason, the teams prayed with great expectation, planning for and believing in a full recovery. ''I'm sorry God, but having him back halfway is not enough. We ask that you bring him back better than before,'' was the heartfelt prayer of one friend.
Two months of coma went by with only glimpses of hope. Doctors struggled to give him time to heal, pulling him through secondary dangers such as staph infections, high fevers and pneumonia. At one point, the pressure in his brain got so high, his heart beat plummeted to 40 beats per minute.
But contrary to every prognosis, Cody improved. He was moved back home to Tulsa hospital for rehab and the prayers continued. Then, in August of 2006, only 6 months since the accident, Cody returned to college. He stood at chapel in front of the entire ACU student body and professors and told them his story. He told them about a God was was big enough to answer any prayer. And he explained that he was ''kind of a big deal','' he said.
Now a year and a half since his accident, Cody continues to heal. He works hard at his grades and is studying Video Journalism.
Friends say he is not exactly the same person he was before his accident. Though he looks the same and talks the same, he is different on the inside, more passionate, more affectionate and more loving.
''Some people might say that the day I had my accident was 'the worst day of my life' Yes. That's one way to look at it. But I say that it was the best day of my life. Because my snowboarding accident gave me a chance to live again and it ''woke me up to the good stuff I wasn't paying attention to.'' That is part of a quote from Robin Williams in the movie Good Will Hunting. I say that the 'good stuff' is God stuff. It takes times of trials for you to cry out to Jesus and pray for guidance,'' Cody said.
Cody has big plans for the future and is dedicated to always focusing on doing ''the good stuff.'' ''Life is not random. There is a reason for the trials of life,'' he said.
So, according to Cody, this Thanksgiving and every Thanksgiving in the future he will not forget to thank God for life. ''It is funny how enjoyable life is, when you are happy to be alive.,'' he said with a smile.
Cody Veteto is again... ''Standing on top of a mountain.''
Get out some tissues and check out ''Cody's Recovery Video'' at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8746U7b8oA
God is truly good.

by Tom McCloud

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Traumatic
• Brain
• Injury
• (TBI)

[soroxor1]

i am a brain injury survivor and i am only 14. i got my injury when i was 12 i am still in recovorey. did you have and after effects like depression or any thing cause i have and it sucks. thanks for posting this, this has made me realize that i can and will get better sometime it may not be today or tommorow or next year but i will get beter

[Wildcat678]

@soroxor1

First, every brain injury is different. Yes I did have depression and I don't think it was permanent. Take one day at a time. It will be alright.

[Lennatrix]

Do you remember m8 what did you dream ? I mean just think about it. 2 months in koma, im really happy that your still in life and hope youll get better !

[No0bT4rD]

dude god didnt get u back from coma... ure just so awesome that your own body decided to wake you up! thats it!

[TheHornet79]

aww....

I wonder what the upside horn hand motion ment

[HappyMauritius]

hi see your video am happy you r ok i hope you feel better in the rest r your live god bless you kiss

[SCARBAND]

that accident really fucked you up. im sorry dude. your on a great road to recovery and i hope things keep getting better.

[steelbutterfly2011]

Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas.

[sk8er180twist]

This is remarkable, I cried whilst watching. All the best to you xx

[Tombaa1970]

cute



[teffany7878]

:) Be good and get better..

[emillokemotocross]

I hope you get better :) Get well soon :)

[ysvidenko]

god bless you!!!