Pediatric Cancer

Proton Alumni Spotlight: Cody Ellison

Cody faced a brain tumor when he was only 8 years old, and today, healthy at age 22, he wishes to give back to patients at the Institute that were just like him. He felt alone and scared but what got him through the hard days were prayer, mentors and social events at the Institute with other patients his age.

After a bicycle accident sent him to the emergency room, Cody’s family learned he had a brain tumor that was blocking his spinal cord. The initial treatment included surgery and when that didn’t remove the entire tumor, proton therapy at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute was incorporated into his cancer treatment plan.

Cody was 9 years old when he began proton therapy for his brain tumor. He fondly remembers social events with other patients like an ice cream party and Christmas at the Institute. This comradery made the hard days a little easier. Even if he was feeling sick or sad, these events would cheer him up. It also helped when former patients would visit and show him and the other patients that it was possible to get to the other side of their cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“They showed me, and I want to show other children facing cancer, you just have to keep fighting and working hard. Anything is achievable,” Cody says.

This is why Cody plans to return to the Institute in the coming months and visit with pediatric patients currently receiving proton therapy for pediatric cancers.

Today, Cody works as a correctional officer and he says he never thought he would make it to age 22, least of all have a career like that. Cody says, “My journey on earth is for a reason.”