THE ED MYLETT SHOW - Cody McCasland - Double Amputee and Tokyo 2020 Hopeful

Episode Date: April 11, 2018

Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for daily interactive motivation. https://www.instagram.com/edmylett/ https://twitter.com/EdMylett https://www.facebook.com/EdMylettFanP... Visit https://www.edmylett.com for tools to #MaxOut your life! --- This mind-blowing interview dives into the mindset of Cody McCasland, alongside his mother Tina. Cody, a double above-knee amputee, was born with a rare birth defect called Sacral Agenesis. This condition caused his legs to form without tibias or knees. At just 15 months old, Cody had both of legs amputated at the knee. He received his first pair of prosthetic legs at 18 months. He was asked to be a Spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, or CAF. With this role, he attends athletic events, fundraisers and clinics to support other physically challenged athletes. He competes in various athletic events around the USA and Canada, with his ultimate goal of competing in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics for swimming. Cody has been allowed the opportunity to meet with several United States military veteran amputees. He spends time with them and shows off his “unlimbited” abilities. Cody lives to inspire others to do the best they can. You can reach Cody at: Instagram: @CodyM2020Swim Twitter: @TheTeamCody Web: TeamCody.com Facebook: facebook.com/theteamcody

This is the Ed Myleths Show. Complete, lead and win. Welcome back to Max Out with Ed Myleth. And I'm so excited that you're going to get to spend this hour with me. It's going to be one of the most life-changing, inspirational hours you've ever invested in your life or that I've ever had because of this young man sitting next to me. I was just telling his mom on planet Earth today of all the 16 year olds in the world.

I think this is the most impressive young man you will ever hear from at his age for a 16 year life span with this young man has accomplished in his life is immeasurable compared to anybody else his age in the world. So I'm so excited to get into the story from you to hear from the special young man. So this is Cody McCaslin. How you doing, brother?

Good, how are you? Good, man. Good to have you here. And his mom Tina. Nice to be here, thanks. Good to have you. And so most of you don't know this. So I want to tell you how this ended up happening. It is crazy how God works.

So many years ago, I learned about Cody. And so I had heard about his story. At that time, he was competing in triathlons at the time when I saw him, and he had just won a very significant award abroad in Europe. And so I started to follow him and pay attention to this young man, because I'm always looking to be inspired.

So I followed him for a few years, and then one day I watched an interview with him and his mom. And I'm looking at the TV camera and I'm thinking, I know that woman, I know that face. And so that face was Tina McNeil for me, which was just so you know, my wife, Kristiana's best friend growing up, and we went to high school together.

And then we had lost contact at high school. So can you imagine my shock when I found out this person who's been inspiring me from a distance all these years is the son of such a great friend of mine growing up. And so then, of course, we've made the context. So the irony is unbelievable how we ended up here today. And so good to see you again. We've been catching up all day looking at old pictures

of us in high school. And it's just a time warp for me. So, and I'm not surprised that you come from her. Just so you know, what I tell you when we're off camera, I told you what, tell you about your mom. She's the greatest, nicest person. When we were growing up, you just know some people you when we're off camera, I told you what to tell you about your mom. She's the greatest nicest person. When we were growing up, you just know some people, when you're growing up, are just good,

and they're gonna have a good life, and they're always gonna be genuine and good, and that was Tina. But today's a lot about you, brother. Yeah. So thank you for being here. Thank you for having me on the show. Yeah, and it's good to be in your home too,

and feel the spirit of your family. Todd's a wonderful man too, you're stepdad, and just blessed to be here. So let's get into it. All right. Talk a little bit about you for a second. So if you can't tell, you can see that Cody is wearing prosthetics. And so when Cody was 18 months old, you don't remember this, but you ended up having your legs amputated, right? I had my amputation at 15 months old. 15 months. And I got my first set of prosthetic legs at 18. At 18. So the amputation was 15. Yes. And at 18 months old. And so that's never stopped you though.

Right. So talk a little bit just for a second about you right now. What you're doing in your life. You're you're a world-class pair athlete. You've traveled all over the world. What's guys won awards at the Vatican. I mean if we listed all of the awards, this young man's won. He's an exemplary student. But how did you get to this point, man? Like, what age did you start saying, I'm gonna start competing, could look, let's be honest. A lot of people that have a circumstance like that,

their first inclination is, I'm gonna go be an athlete, right? That's not the first thing you might think of. So, how'd that start and how'd you get here? So, I started swim classes with my mom before I even learned how to walk. So that's how I got into the love of swimming. And at three years old, I told my mom, I want to go to the Olympics for swimming.

At three years old. Three years old. Okay. So, she did some research and she found the Paralympics and got in touch with them. And from there on, I got on onto a swim team at five years old, went to my first national competition at 10 years old, and just kept going on from there. Are you all hearing this?

Like it's unbelievable. And then you also compete just so y'all know, you compete on the able-bodied team as well, right? Yes, yes, I practice on an able-bodied team. I've go to their swim meets, and then I'm on the varsity swim team for Keller High School. And you all understand how amazing this kid is. So, so I want

to I want to weave the story together. So, because you say that like it's like nothing, right? Like, I decided I was going to swim when I was three. Well, you didn't have legs at the time. Right. So, that's not a normal request of a three year old. Like, you're not a normal dude, right? You're an extraordinary dude. And then to compete and say that you wanted to do all these things is unreal.

But I want to go to mom for a second. So let's go all the way back. Because I believe, I know you're a person of faith. You know that I am too. And so I want to talk about, so did you know prior to delivery that there was going to be any issues with Cody medically? No, the only thing that we really thought was going to be an issue with Cody was that there

was possibility he was going to be early. I got put on bed rest to 27 weeks, return labor, but other than that, thought everything was going to be normal. It had been hard pregnancy. I'd been sicker than a dog. That was it. That was it. And then so he's born.

And then how soon after he was born, did you know there might be some medical issues? So one of the doctors that day, and they said today is today, you've got to go get a seed section. He needs to come out. He's no longer growing inside of you. So went down to the hospital and got checked in and went in for my seed section. I knew that he probably wouldn't be breathing because he was six weeks early. so I'd prepared myself mentally for the fact that I needed to expect the room to be a little bit chaotic. Everybody trying to work on him, making sure he was breathing and stuff.

And so when he was born, that was exactly what happened. There was no crying, there was no noise, and they took him immediately to a little incubator next to where I was, but I couldn't see anything. And it was really quiet. Like more quiet than I expected, like nobody was even telling me anything.

And a couple minutes later, he was breathing screaming and they wrapped him up and brought him over to me and said, okay, we're taking him now. And they took him to the NICU and his father went with them. And they, you know, normally stitched me up and got me off cleaned up and everything and put me in the recovery room and as far as I knew at that point, he was fine. He was just a preemie. But then I was in recovery so maybe 30 minutes after he was born or so,

his dad came and then told me that the doctors had said to prepare for him, did I? told me that the doctors had said to prepare for him, did I? And I, all I can say is I had a pure sense of peace over me. It was as if the Lord just kind of surrounded me and said, no, he's fine. He absolutely is fine. And I looked at him and I said, no, he's fine. He's going to be okay. Did you verbally say that? Okay.

And his dad said to me, Tina, we've been told to call a pastor and he's going to die. And I just said no, I don't believe it. He's not going to. And that was that. I mean, I was just saying it was going to be okay. You had a knowing that he would do it. I just did. Yeah.

I just had a knowing that he was going to be okay. And a little bit later, they came in and said okay, here's the deal. Cody has some very significant differences. He has some major intestinal issues, or not sure if he has normal kidneys, he needs to be transferred to a different hospital. So they did. They took him to a different hospital within probably two hours of his, his birth. And got a call that night from a surgeon who said he's going to have surgery tomorrow. He needs to get a colostomy. He has some intestinal issues and that's the only way he's going to be able to stay alive for the next you know, few months until we can figure out what's going on with them. And so I was like, okay, that's fine. He'll be okay. He'll be fine. And I never

let any of that get me down. I knew that there was just a piece, a real piece over me that Cody was going to be okay. Did you know when we were growing up, I'm just curious, I was just thinking, no, I really like, the Lord chose you, right? Like this all happened for you and not to you, and hindsight that's obvious, but at the time it wasn't. Did you know you were like, did you always have this sort of strength or was it revealed to you in this moment? Because I think a lot of times people

that are watching this, they'll hear from you and think, I don't have that kind of strength, I don't have that kind of faith. But sometimes it's in that moment that you find it, right? So, are you even surprised by how strong you were during that time or were you always this way when we were kids and I didn't know it? No, I don't think I was.

This is where I think everybody has different points in life when challenges confront them. And they have two options. They can become the victim of that. And run away and hide and say, oh my gosh, I can't believe this is happening to me. Or they can stand up to it and say, you know, there's going to be something positive

that comes out of this. Amen. It's all in how you deal with issues. And I just absolutely knew that all I could do was be there for him. I can remember there was a day when I did get down. I mean, I'm not going to lie. There was obviously times where it was very overwhelming.

He was medically very fragile and very sick. And they came and said he was going to have to have another surgery. And I was like, gosh, this poor little guy, another surgery. And I was talking to my mom about it and I was crying. And she said, Tina, you have two choices right now. You can cry and and and while I win this or you can take this as you need to be there for him. He needs you right now. You need to be strong for him. And at that point, I went, you're right. I can see it on your face. It's interesting

because you played the support role, but you're also the leader. And I think it's important for people that are listening to this, because a lot of people that are listening to this are in different businesses, they're in different things. And some of them are the support piece. And you have to think, Tina takes all your excuses away. You're having a hard time supporting someone because they're not making enough money, right?

Or they're gone too much. This is a woman who needed to be their support, a baby who was having multiple surgeries over and over again. That's something that takes some strength to support, right? who is having multiple surgeries over and over again. That's something that takes some strength to support, right? And so, you compare the two, you certainly can find the strength she found because what she had to found was far more profound than what you did. So, Cody was born, I learned a little bit, you weren't born with your, you had some intestinal

issues like your mom was talking about, right? And then also, talk for a second if you can, maybe your mom's more familiar, but I'd like you to answer it if you can. Your tibia's weren't formed or didn't exist in certain places in your legs, is that right? What else a little bit about that? So I didn't have my kneecaps or tibia's. So I had my femurs, just no kneecaps and no tibia's and then I had the bones in my feet. And how soon did you find that out? Well, so it was a process because when you're born,

your bones are not calcified, so you can't even see them on an X-ray. Yeah. And so the doctors were actually feeling around and they thought on his right side that he was missing those bones. But on the left side, they actually thought they were there. Okay. They thought they might not be fully developed but they thought they could maybe do surgery on them to make them work

usable. And so when he was about a year old We decided to go to a secondary hospital in Pittsburgh or actually I'm sorry Philadelphia Just to kind of get a second opinion because it's a big decision to make of what you're going to do when you're talking amputation That's life changing right and so we went to another doctor and they said, absolutely, we agree with the first doctor. There are notibis in either leg and there's no patellas, no nivones on either leg. And so the best option for Cody would be to have them go ahead and amputate through the knee, no bones can cut at that point and give them the opportunity to walk on prosthesis. Now, we did not know whether or not

he would walk for sure. He had enough differences where his hip wasn't created normally. It was just it wasn't a good fit. So we knew that. We knew his muscle tone and his legs was different. His muscle tone and his glutes were different. And so whether or not he'd be able to actually get up on prosthesis was still not known. But the whole thought behind it was Cody's legs weren't normal. They looked like a frog. They sat like a frog They could not get straightened closed didn't fit him correctly He could not wear tennis shoes because his one of his foot was club dunder and so for Cody his legs really just dragged behind him and got in the way Yeah, and so even if he was not able to use prosthesis He'd be in a wheelchair in a wheelchair

Again, he's gonna be sitting in a wheelchair. In a wheelchair, again, he's going to be sitting in a position that's very abnormal. And so he was going to be more normal without that part of his legs than with it. What a massive decision though. I mean, how many surgery, so 15 months, how many surgeries did he have before the 15 months that he had other, would you say the first 15 months, roughly how many surgeries did Cody have, including this one? Probably somewhere about 9 or 10. Yeah, I guess. So I giggled earlier, because I so joyful about where you are.

I giggled when you were telling that story ironically because I was just thinking, you're wrestling with these first 15 months, and obviously after that too, but you have all these issues you're wrestling with to think that during that time, this boy of yours is going to go to the Vatican I went in award and gonna compete internationally in sports like it's just Amazing man. It's just amazing and that's why I found you. I'm like it's here I am in my mid 30s and there's this boy from a distance who at the time you were like six eight years old when I was hearing about Eurydice

I didn't know that Tina was your mom and you're inspiring me, you know? I mean like, and all of you have something where you could be inspiring, you could overcome. Cody takes your excuses away, Tina takes them away. I was just was curious about this though, because as a parent, what's it like, just for a second, we're gonna get to you now, brother. But what's it like?

What's it like? You're driving to the hospital that day, and then you know you're 18 months, you're 15 month old rather, boys gonna have his legs amputated that day. What's that like? How do you get through something like that? Was it your faith?

Was it help people that are going through some thing they think is major, which isn't comparatively speaking probably, but what was it that got you through those decisions, through those moments, because you clearly made the right decision, right? So what was it that got you through that? You know, part of it is definitely faith,

knowing that everything happens for a reason. And I knew I didn't know what that reason was at that point in time, but I knew that through figuring out different processes of what was wrong with Cody, what would be the best outcomes for Cody, having that knowledge, plus having faith that the Lord's going to provide us the tools that we need to get through things. We just have to choose to use those tools. This surgery really was a tool. It was going

to help him have a more fulfilling life in my mind. And I'm going to say that there wasn't tears that day because there absolutely were. Yeah. Anytime your child has a surgery, you're scared, are they going to wake up? Yeah. Sure. And so that really wasn't any different than any of the other series, searchers prior to that. Yeah. The big thing was the doctor actually warned us for this. You're going to have to sign a piece of paper that says we can dispose of his legs. And it was like, okay, what's that gonna be like? And they told us about it beforehand.

And I have to tell you, honestly, that day, that was not a big deal. It wasn't, it wasn't, yeah. It was your well-being, that was probably the big deal, right? So you go from there, right? So, here we go. Now we're gonna go on this ride, this 16 year ride, right? So you were in the pool actually prior to this happening, though, weren't you? You were

in the pool before your amputations. That's how much you loved the water. So what is this deal, man? So you're different, like you have these huge goals already. Like it's not normal for a 16 year, they have such bold, ambitious goals and then you just knock them down and crush them too. So go back a little bit earlier. So you're this little guy. What age do you first remember like wanting to compete and wanting to win in swimming or the triathlons or the other stuff you were doing? Probably when I was about four or five when I joined a swim team over in Collieville.

And that was my first time swimming on a competitive team, my first time starting to work out in the pool a bit more, first time going to swim meets. Okay, were these all paramets when you were going to them or were these? No, these were all able bodies. Okay, come on Matt, so you go into that first meet, you're four or five years old. You know that you're a little bit different

looking than these other kids, right? Were you nervous? Because here's the thing, why do I ask you? I wanna give everyone a lead in. Everyone here's thinking about doing something new. Might be walking into a new business or walking into a new relationship, or maybe they're having a setback. They're going to walk into a smaller home or start over again, right? You're a four-year-old, man.

And you're going to go into a swim meet with kids who are able-bodied, right? Did you have anxiety about that? Do you remember that? Or are you like, not, we're just here to kick some butt? I was excited, actually, I think. I was ready to go. I was excited to swim. What do you think that's because your parents, your mom, gave you such confidence at home? Or you just like wired like a freak? Like, or you just, like, what do you think it is?

I think I've just liked being in the water so much that if I was in the water right in the care. Yeah, so you were doing something you loved. Yeah. It's really what it was. Yeah, were you any good at first? I was meeting people with legs, so something you loved. Yeah. It's really what it was. Yeah. Were you any good at first? I was meeting people with legs, so.

You were. Yeah. You were meeting people with legs, like even, like, four or five six years old, you were seeing a win already. That's unreal. What was when you were younger, like one of the most significant achievements you had swimming? Did you, like, win a big meet?

Did you, anything like that when you were a kid? It's probably when I started to get to travel a bit more, is when I started. Where have you traveled to swim? I've gotten to go across the US, I've been to Canada, the summer I'm going to Ireland for swimming. Yeah, this is big. Tell them about that.

What are you doing in Ireland? This is huge. So this summer in Ireland, I'm going to compete in the 2018 IWAS Games. And I applied for this in December. And the team was picked in January or early February. And it's a group of 29 people. Only four of those people are actually going for swimming. The rest are going for track and field events.

Is this a USA team? Yes, this is a USA team. For your country. Yes. So awesome. And that's a big deal there, just so you know, that's a really big deal. So you've done that, you've been all over the world. The other thing you've done that where I first saw you too is like because of what you've

been able to achieve and because of what you're able to do and you do it, I love how you think like to you, it's not a big deal, but to the rest of us, it's a big deal, right? So, but you've actually inspired people in other places. I watch this thing. I want you to talk about this just for a second. A lot of the wounded warriors founded you, right? Because a lot of these guys that were in combat, that had an IUD or something like that, and they lost a leg or lost both limbs. You've inspired those guys too, right? Like this message has gotten out there. Your story has to those guys. Talk a little bit about that. If you ever met some of these guys, and how's that going? Yeah, so when I was younger, I would go down to San Antonio,

where the wounded vet friend's hospital was, and I would go and talk to them, and I'd let them know. How old were you when you did that? How old? So I was like 10, 7, or 9, 10. He would go down there and speak to the wounded warriors, the vets at seven or eight years old.

Yeah. And I'd tell them, hey, look, I'm swimming, I'm running, I'm still doing everything that I could do with legs. So you go and you losing your leg, you can still do all of this. It might be a little different, but you can still do it. You can Oh my god. It might be a little different, but you can still do it. You can still enjoy life.

What made you do that? Just being, I liked to share my story. I liked telling people, hey, look, you think you're having a bad day. Look, you can do all of that. I'm doing all this stuff here. Does it ever surprise you that you do all this stuff? Like do you, I mean,

because other people react to you a particular way, right? Or is it just like normal to you? Like I'm just gonna do this stuff. Like earlier we took some footage in the back yard, we had to walk up this hill. And I'm like, that's a pretty steep hill. You're like, no, I got it.

I'm gonna do it, right? Like it wasn't easy for you. But you didn't really care. So almost like you just said I'm going to do it and then you just did it. Is that sort of how you are? Yeah, it's pretty normal to me. If I see a challenge, I just go right for it.

I might have to tackle it a bit differently, but I go for it. Oh, man. You're just so you know, like lots of people right now are trying to keep their car on the road that are listening to this, or they're so inspired. They want their kids to see this. And so let's talk a second about,

so obviously there's all these achievements and we're gonna move through all of them. It's hard to do in an hour because the list is gigantic of the things you've achieved already. But talk about this for a second because Tina was saying this too, either one of you can answer this, we can start with you.

You look different, right? You acknowledge that when you're out, you look different, right? And so how should people react to somebody that's different than them? How should they react? They should treat them just the same. They should go up to them if they have a question

and ask questions. I hate it more when you just have people staring at you and they know they wanna ask a question, but they don't. Because if they don't ask a question, they're just gonna have that with them for a long time and they're just gonna regret it because they're gonna see another person someday along the road and they're gonna be like,

don't ask a question again. So you prefer someone to come say, hey, what's going on? What happened to you? I'd prefer that. And you agree with that too? Absolutely. I think we, as humans,

have this just desire to have an appropriate behavior in front of people. And what we think is appropriate is maybe not tackling subjects that are more challenging and so when someone looks different people say oh we should talk about that especially to their children because children have no filters right and so when you're out with your kids I mean I'm sure your kids did this they might say hey look that person's got

crazy hair oh look that person's got tattoos I just heard a funny one about that that someone said their kids saw the someone tattoos tattoos and said, I want stamps like that. Yeah, so kids are gonna say whatever they want. Well, kids see these and they would say, look at his robot legs. You've actually heard that term before. Yeah, oh, it turns and turns. And it's not a big deal, really.

I mean, yeah, they're cool, the robot legs are different. So if you're gonna like kids' assos questions, they're gonna learn and they're gonna become more aware of what's happening around them. And they're going to learn that things aren't to be ashamed of. I mean, what is shameful about having prosthetics? Nothing. Right. That's so good for us all to hear.

Look, it's even me. I'll see somebody in a certain situation, I don't want to make them uncomfortable by looking at them sometimes. And so it's just a great lesson. I mean, you're right. Kids don't have that. But this, so you all know this, too. Like, this dude's done horseback riding. He's done a great lesson. I mean, you're right, kids don't have that. But this, so you all know this too. Like this dude's done horseback riding.

He's done footpin soccer. He's done triathlon. He's done all kinds of sports. Just you love swimming. That's where it's become down to. But are you gonna, your mom will tell me, are you gonna maybe get back in and do a trial? He's got a disc issue in your back, right?

So on top of that, he's developed this disc issue in his back, but you're gonna do a triathlon again? Yes, so our high school swim season has finished for the year. Okay. And after the season finishes, you have three choices. You can do water polo. You can do triathlon or you can do off-season swim. Now, I was tempted to do water polo, but I think that wouldn't work out too well.

Right. And then I did off-season swim last year, but I just wanted to do a bit more cross-training this year. Okay. So I decided I'll try try up on this year. Man, that's bananas. I love that. You're going to kick some tail out of it.

I just, I just like, I wonder when you're watching this, like what your excuse is, because it's, I think, just haven't been around you too. I think it's like, you just don't have limited thinking Like I don't think you think in a limited way like I think in adult suffer from this to say well I can't do that because I don't have this money or I can't do that because of my circumstances or when my kids get older Whatever you come up with these excuses. You just don't have them. You're like no, I want to do it I'll figure you'll find a way to do it is what it seems like with me right talk about that kind of perspective You have this thing you talk about posit Pazikhan. Pazikhan. What the heck is that?

So Pazikhan is a positive attitude or positivity with an eye-canned attitude. Okay. Pazikhan. Pazikhan. I love that. Okay. And it just sums up what I try to be. I try to always share my positivity and eye-canned attitude with others and show them that I might not have legs, but I'm still happy and I'm trying everything I can. Dude, I love that.

I think I may steal it from you. It's really good, but that is really, do you have, I want to ask you hard things now, not the softball stuff. So, do you have things in your life where they, can you think of a circumstantial? Like, I don't know if I can do this. Do you have things in your life where they they can you think of a circumstantial like I don't know if I can do this. Do you have doubts and then you just overcome them or do you just think you can do anything? I'm interested.

Everyone has doubts at some point in their life. It's just do you you have to go through those doubts you have to work through them and not just turn away and say oh well I'm not gonna try it it looks looks hard. Yeah, you'll just try. Yes. Have you had setbacks before? Definitely. Like, when I was little, I wanted to run, and we didn't know how that would work or anything.

So we went to the doctors and said, Cody wants to run, and they went and talked, and I ended up being at the time one of the youngest people to receive running legs. Now though, they suit people up with these running legs at two, three years old though. Unbelievable. I watched a video, I think we'll probably feed this in here

a little bit, Nico, you'll feed this in here. And I watched this video of the day you gave another boy his legs. Do you remember that day? Yes. And when the first thing is you go, hey, come on, run like this and you just did it. Yeah. I thought there was a huge lesson that one I could see the joy on your face for giving, which is just like you did with the warriors. You love to give,

you love to inspire. Honestly, think this. I think the Lord had this happen for you because you have this giant heart to give and to because a lot of guys could even go through this, win and they still have the heart to give it. Like you want to spread this right but what you did it was so perfect you go come on and you showed him you didn't just tell him you show you guys went running off together now the sun he's running and you're running do you love that because I think you could do this as a speaker to I've told you this right like do you love inspiring people to make you feel good is it something that you're conscious of doing when you do it yes I love

inspiring others I love talking and sharing my story with others. It's a great feeling. And is he, I'm going to ask you Tina, like when you watch him, you love all your children, obviously, they're all special. We were talking about all your children. You could tell me all the great things about every one of them. But one of the things about him is like, he sets big goals. He does.

Right. Like, and so talk a little bit about like, I want kids to hear this, because a lot of kids watch this. Cody's ability to think about what he wants and do them in a big way at a young age. Tell us how he's unique in that regard. Yeah, so Cody is young. And it's like he said, three years old was already

talking about wanting to go to the Olympics for swimming. Yeah, not just swim. Yeah. And so then it's like, OK, well, we can't just squash that. You have to have that spirit in a person. And so parents, listen to this. Don't squash that, right? Don't squash your kids' goals.

Right. Because that's their dream. We don't want to put our expectations on our children. And so our job as a parent really is to help them find a way to reach those goals to their fullest potential. And so what we did with Cody was obviously we got him onto his swim team. That was the first step. But we took baby steps along the way. And so, you know, the first goal for Cody is funny is the sound was beat a kid with a beat a

kid with legs. Yeah. And the minute he did that, it was like, I beat a kid with legs. And it was the funniest thing. That was his thing when he got out of the pool that day when he had that that really. Oh man, what a day. And then from there it was okay, individual goals. This is your time that you've had up to now and we do this still. You're going to need to beat that time. You're doing this against yourself. Don't be comparing yourself to anybody else.

Compare yourself to yourself. That way you're not letting anybody else down. You're not letting yourself down. You can do this. You can do this. Get better than yourself. Yeah, and you might be faster than them, and comparing yourself against someone who's slower than you doesn't serve you either, right?

It's huge. That's such a huge lesson, is not to compare yourself with other people, because one, you may not be where they are, and it hurt your ability to get better, but also you may be better than them, you should be competing against yourself. So here's how big this dude's goals are, right?

This is some so impressed. Tell everybody what you wanna be as a career as you get older. I would like to be a pediatric anesthesiologist. Yeah, and how do you know that already? Like, so I figured that out when I was about three years old just because of how often I was around the hospital and in surgery and stuff that being around doctors that kind of just pulled me in and I liked my anesthesiologist. So I kind of just clung on to that. Yeah, but you haven't just had it as a goal. You've also taken some action towards that goal.

What have you done already? This dude's 16. He swims, he competes. He's a four point plus plus GPA. Straight A's in almost every AP, et cetera, class. But on top of all that, you've already taken steps towards that goal at 16 years old, what have you already done for that?

So I've already gone up to the hospital and I've gotten a shadow of general surgeon. I've gotten to shadow a little bit of an anesthesiologist and a neurologist. I'm on a after school program called HOSA, which is health, occupation, future of America. Okay, something of America. Yeah.

And what it is, is you pick a competition that's in the medical field type thing. I did clinical nursing. You take a quiz online. Okay. And if you place in the top 10 in your area, you go on to region. Okay. And then if you do top two your area, you go on to region. Okay. And then if you do top two in region, you move on to state.

And I got first place. Oh my gosh. So I'm moving on to state. You're going on a state that's awesome. Yeah. Congratulations. Thank you. It's so great.

See, I think there's formulas. There's recipes to your success. One that, that posit can't attitude that you have. I think it's huge. I think you set these big goals, but the other thing you do is you take action towards them. You just try. It's like you just try. Like I don't think you're afraid to fail. I think that's one of the strengths of you. I want people to hear how they can impact someone's life in any career though. Tina, you don't think it's coincidental. And he mentioned it a little

bit that he wants to be an anesthesiologist, right? One of the reasons is why there is a particular special person, right? That just tell, I want you to know that when you go the extra mile, when you do something special, you can change the world. Because think about this, go ahead, tell the story real quick. Yeah, so Cody's had, or he had had the same anesthesiologist for many of his surgeries, and she was just a very loving person, nursery person. She would pick him up and carry him back to surgery, give him stuffed animals beforehand, come and check on him in his room,

and just built that bond with him. And I think that does go right along with what you're saying. When you go to the hospital, pick him up and carry him back to surgery, give him stuffed animals beforehand, come and check on him in his room and just build that bond with him. And I think that does go right along with what you're saying. When you pay that little extra attention to somebody who might be having a bad day at work or if they're not certain of their own path and you kind of give them just a little bit of positive feedback,

it really can help them have that inspiration to move on into what they're looking for. And so Cody, you know, not only did he like her? Cody likes to help people. Yeah. He's not scared of being around medical things and I think for him It's always been that I know I can help somebody if I'm in medicine Mm-hmm, and he can have the empathy because he's been there. Yeah, you know You see you can change the world in so many different ways like she didn't know that but if she's carrying this little boy back I can do in that little extra thing and caring for him, he's falling in love with her indirectly

wanting to be her someday, right, in that time. And the person she picked to do it for is a world changer, right. So she indirectly changed the world through this guy. It's like amazing. Just you plant these seeds and the harvest is beyond what you can even imagine, right. So she didn't know she's pointing these seeds in this magnificent human right here and you end up being the world-changer. So talk a little bit to kids for a second. All right. So and this you didn't always gonna ask you this, but I wanted to just ask you this. This is okay. There's kids out there that are your age that are party and all the time. They're not, and they have perfect legs, right? They have all the ability in the

world. They have all the opportunities in the world and they're blowing it already right now. A lot of you have kids that aren't taking their grades seriously, they're not taking their life seriously, they're not getting focused. And then there's a dude like you, right? So just not bragging, not preaching it people, but what would you get a 16 year old friend right here?

And he's like, hey man, I'm kind of sloughing off. I can't get focused. Maybe he doesn't believe in himself enough. What would you tell that buddy of yours, that 16-year-old buddy of yours? If you have a positive can attitude, you can do anything. That's the first thing there.

And you might need that extra little push. You might need to find someone to help you. Find someone an advocate to find you. There you go. You found it. So talk about that. That's such a core part of your message. help you find someone an advocate to find you. You found it. So talk about that. That's such a core part of your message. What about this advocate idea?

You're not afraid to ask for help. Right. So talk about that. How important are advocates in your life? So one of my advocates is right here, my mom. But I have tons of advocates. I have friends. I have teachers.

I have parents. My AP at school. He helps me all the time with his problems when I'm out of school. If I have a teacher that's not wanting to work with me, I just go talk to him and he takes care of the problem. Yes. Advocates are very important because if you're running into any problems anywhere, you can talk to them and they can try to help you. Brother, that's such a huge message because we're sitting over here before we were recording and Todd and you were both talking about how important advocates have been for you and

I asked you how do you get them? I ask for help, right? And none of us will ask one person for help. Maybe you need to ask ten, but find that mentor, right? Find that advocate because you haven't gotten where you've gotten alone, right? You've had your mom, you've had these other people, you don't accomplish life-changing, world-changing things on your own. There's people around you that say such a powerful, powerful message. I really do appreciate you sharing that with everybody. Okay, so I told

you before we were filming today, hope you're all feeling this by the way, okay. But I told you, I said, hey, this is your old story, right? Like I told you, and I challenged you, I said, the only way that this story is powerful going forward is the next 16 years or just as amazing, right? And so, are you the type of dude who you're never satisfied? I'm just curious, like, what makes you wired? Are you waste days? Do you waste hours? Are you always trying to do things?

Just trying to get in like, how? I'm always ready to move on. Swim practice, I'm always ready to be right in the water. I like to be the first one in, last one out. Oh yeah, did you learn that? Did your mom tell you that? Or are you just that way? I just like meeing in the water and that kind of just

want to make me work harder, basically. Do you do that in school too or school easy for you? School is nice for me, I like it there. It's pretty easy, simple. He says that, but he's also the kid that if you give him an assignment that's doing two weeks, he's got it done right away. He's very self-motivated. He doesn't like to procrastinate. He likes to make sure he kind of sets goals for himself to get things done along the way,

and that way he's ahead of the game. So you get to, you've observed this guy up close for 16 years, right? So what would you tell people about someone like him? What is different about him? What would you say that you've observed that's different about your little boy, your now young man, that what makes him special? What's different about him?

I think what really makes him special is the fact that he's teachable. He's open to getting feedback, not to say that as a teenager, he's not defensive at times. He doesn't get, you know, like any kid does. But he will take the time to listen to you and really absorb what you're saying to him. And he's got sensitivity about himself, so he's sensitive to others.

But he also sets goals, which I think is so unusual for kids these days. Many kids don't have goals that they've put forward. That's what I think. You know, they talk about adolescence not going into people's 20s because they're not getting that part of their life in place while they're in middle school in high school like we did. Yes. But I don't know where that's come from because.

Part of it's come from you. I'll be honest to you, I was talking to Cody. The Lord chose you. You were always a little bit different. You were always a little kinder, a little more focused, a little, you just always were good when we were kids growing up. Just you guys have to know how mind-blowing it was

for me to find out that Cody's mom was Tina. It's the most, one of the most, and then how blessed it is even that the Lord put me in this position that I can help elevate you and that little did we know. Think about how amazing life is. We're 13 and 14 years old hanging around each other that somehow God would conspire to put our lives together to do this right here.

It's just amazing when you look back. Life happens for you. Life has a purpose. It has a purpose. And so long as you're willing to put that purpose into motion, it's great. But if you're going to sit back and let life happen to you, I think that's where the victim mentality comes from. Yeah, you're not a victim, are you?

No. Have you ever thought about that? Do you spend a lot of time laying around going, man, I wish I had this or I wish I had that. Do you ever? No. You don't. I might have a disability, but it's also an ability.

How so? What do you mean by that? I might look like I'm disabled, but I'm have a disability, but it's also an ability. How so? What do you mean by that? I might look like I'm disabled, but I'm in the water and I'm meeting people with legs. I think the big message here is that the disability is his legs are missing. Right. But a true disability is what's in between your head.

I mean, anybody that is like Cody has two choices in life. They can get up, they can figure out how to move on and walk, big deal, walking. Kids have to learn how to walk, but it's whether or not you're gonna let that difference about yourself, affect your ability to move forward and do what you have goals to do.

You can figure out how to do anything you want to. Now, we may not all be able to be Michael Phelps. Right. You know. I'm never gonna dunk a basketball, right? Right. Exactly, but we can all figure out what our own, and unique thing is about us that we're really good at

and going to excel in that. So long as we put those different things into place that are gonna help us get there. I think a lot of people that watch this, they're so in touch with what their disadvantage is or what they're not good at. If you ask the average person, tell me five things that are great to help us get there. I think a lot of people that watch this, they're so in touch with what their disadvantages or what they're not good at. If you ask the average person, tell me five things that are great about you, they'll struggle for an hour to come up with it.

You say, me five things you're not good at. Boom, they can list 50. I also think that when you get dozed with maybe something that you're not great at, like I'm terrible at math. Like I'm just terrible. Science, I could not get through chemistry. I just was horrible. Mr. Park was my chemistry teacher.

Right, so I just had a terrible time with it, right? But I got overdosed with other giftedness and blessings, right? And so I think life's about finding out what your giftedness is, finding out what your blessings are, and then living your whole life that way, right? That's what makes a great life. And you've done that. So you're not in touch with what the disability is really

in any way. You just have found ways to make yourself great no matter what. So we've got a couple of minutes left, and I don't want to make sure that they're powerful minutes. You could give a message to anybody who's going through a tough time right now. This is a tough one.

I'm going through a tough time. Doesn't matter. They could be a kid. They're not getting good grades or they're getting bullied at school. Or their parents are getting divorced. Or it's an adult getting a kid. They're not getting good grades or they're getting bullied at school or You know, they're their parents are getting divorced or it's an adult getting a divorce or their businesses and going well or there's just Any people's lives have problems, right? And so they'd look to this 16-year-old dude who by the way is an expert at this You're an expert, right? And that's why by the way for a lot of you

We're gonna talk about this. I mean, I think it'd be a great speaker to come speak to your organization as well. But what would you say to somebody who's going through a tough time right now? What should they do? Pazacan first. And secondly, be strong. Don't give up. It will always get better. Just make it through the tough times and it will get better.

Wow. Just have that faith. Yeah, I was going to ask you, it's faith that you have that too. What would you say to somebody like that? Same thing, or would you add anything to that? The only thing I would add to that is that, if you have faith, you have to know that there's always gonna be tough times in life.

The Lord provides you the good times, but He also provides you the challenges. And the only way we get stronger for those good times is by going through those times where we have challenges. If you can just remember that, you're going to experience some amazing different things in your life, but you've got to go through those challenges to get to that better. Yeah. Did you think when he was, could you envision all of this? I'm just thinking. Never. No. Cody is truly a blessing as a child, but sometimes when I as a mom get to sit back and watch,

I think why was I picked? Yeah. Why was I picked to get to see him go through what he's gone through? There's definitely, like I just said, there's definitely been times where it's been extremely hard. Of course.

Stream challenges, lots of times where you cry, why me? I will tell you, I said why me? But I always knew it was gonna get better. You did. And I get to be his mom. So wonderful. What you got is so wonderful.

And your life has momentum, man. What it is is that your mom was such a great mom to you as a young man. And then you started achieving. And what you're a product of, it's like people go, how in the world? Right? Like seriously, but I kind of know,

one, it's God's favor, two, it's having these advocates mainly being your mom, three, it's being driven and posicant and the things that there's this recipe, like you can duplicate this in your life, right? And then there's also the thing you have, and it's life momentum. Like you get momentum going in your life,

I have this theory that like momentum is this force that can get you to do from average things to extraordinary things. And that momentum was with effort. That momentum was that first time you got in the pool, man, before you even had your legs amputated or that first meet when you're four years old. You have the courage to,

but I guess I don't wanna go. I might not, there are kids out there and I don't wanna go to their game because I think they're gonna strike out,. They're not going to make a basket. You went to a dad gun swim meat. You went to a swim meat with no legs. And then started beating able-bodied people, right? So you created this momentum by doing it.

You're an example. Cody and Tina are examples of what your life can be like when you get momentum, when you have this recipe in this formula. Your challenge, young man, is that this momentum continues, right? That you don't rest on these laurels, that you keep pushing, that you keep getting better. And so, I want to ask you a question. If I come back here, okay, and I come back in two years, which we can, okay? So I come back here in two years.

What will I have seen you done by then? Or are you going to go compete? Because in two years is 2020. Right. And that's the reason why I ask here in two years. What will I have seen you done by then? Are you gonna go compete? Because in two years is 2020. And that's the reason why I ask you about two years. Okay, so what are your goals? Think about that 2020. There's a reason for that date, right? Okay, so what do you want to have accomplished

by the end of 2020? What are some of your goals? I would like to be on the Paralympic team going to Tokyo and competing. Yes, yes, that's a biggie. And you'll be done with high school, right? Yes. Well, you have your grades in check to get good grades when you get through there.

Yes, I will. So how do they follow you? Because you're going to watch this young man. You're going to hear about his journey. You'll see some of the clips. We there's only about, I don't know how many metals are out there in the bed. Probably about 75, 80. Like 75, 80 metals this young man's won, right?

Bend to the Vatican Vatican help the wounded warriors spoken all over the world already right then everywhere competed everywhere and now he's going to be representing the team USA and has a chance by 2020 to be in the Paralympics that's massive brother right and so where can they find

out more about you which the best place to go find you and follow you I have multiple social media accounts. Okay. You can find me on Facebook at Team Cody. Okay. Or search my name, Cody Macastlin. Okay. You can find me on Instagram. Search my name, Cody Macastlin. And I'm on Twitter on at the Team Cody. At the Team Cody. Yeah. He also has a website. Okay. Yes. Cody Macastlin.com or TeamCody.com. Okay. So there also has a website. Okay. Yes. Coatimacaston.com or teamcoady.com. Okay.

So there you go, everybody. So this is one of the most inspiring humans on the spinning planet right now. And I opened up by telling you that I'm so proud of my 16-year-old son, Max. You know that. The greatest compliment I could give you is that you remind me of him in so many ways. But your story is extraordinary. It's not normal. Of on the planet right now,

of people that were born when you were born, I think you're the most inspiring person on the planet right now. I really do, brother, and I wanted the world to see you and your beautiful mom, who I've known like three times longer than you've even been living, right? But I want the world to follow this guy.

If you're interested in having income speak to your organization, make contact. If you want to help contribute to helping this dude travel and do the different things, we're not opposed to that either. Anything you want to do to get involved and follow him, be inspired by him. And what we'll do is we will come back here in two years and we will replay the end of that interview and I'm going to hold you to what you told me because this is, listen to me.

This is the beginning of your story. This is the first chapter of your life and the best chapters are coming and you're the author of them, right? We know that. There's no better author in the world. So thank you so much. Thank you for having me on the show.

Oh good, Tina, thank you, thank you. All right, everybody, listen to me. Follow this guy and if you enjoyed the day or you're inspired, which I'm pretty sure you've driven off the road by this time and pulled over Or you're watching this on YouTube. Here's all I ask you to do. I always ask you to do this I bring you the most inspiring people in the world or the people that can give you the tools and the tactics all I want you to do It's all free is just like it or rank and review it depending on the platform. They're on make a comment send a review and let's max this out everybody. God bless you

from there on make a comment, send a review, and let's max this out, everybody. God bless you. [♪ OUTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪ you