Teen fights cancer en route to claiming diploma

SANDPOINT — Cody Grover has faced more challenges in 18 years than most people experience in a lifetime.

The Sandpoint High School student is celebrating his graduation today. However, the road toward his diploma was significantly rockier than most of his peers. A 2011 Jacey’s Race beneficiary, he balanced his studies and after-school job at Dubs with chemotherapy appointments.

Grover has bone cancer, an illness that first manifested around the age of 10. Despite the hurdles his condition threw in his path, he tackled them one at a time with unwavering resilience and positivity.

“I tried not to complain, and I did what I had to do,” he said. “I don’t want anyone feeling pity for me — I just want to be a normal kid.”

Nevertheless, not every student had to deal with the nausea and sickness of chemotherapy treatments while keeping up their studies at the same time. After all, when you’re trying to keep your lunch down, the day’s round of homework isn’t exactly the most appealing notion.

“There were a lot of times when I just wanted to stay in bed or watch TV,” Grover said.

Nevertheless, he kept on pushing himself. The school also helped him out with its homebound program. Once a week, a teacher dropped by his house to pick up work he’d already completed and help him out with a new range of lessons.

Grover has dealt with his cancer three times now. The first time, he need to have a knee cap replaced. That surgery meant another year of physical therapy was ahead, during which he learned to walk all over again.  

The second and third attacks arrived in high school. When doctors detected cancer in his shin located too close to nerves to operate effectively, Grover underwent an amputation. Following the operation, doctors fitted him with a prosthesis. That meant learning to walk all over again for a second time.

“That was probably the biggest challenge that I’ve overcome,” he said. “You think of it as such a simple thing, and when you can’t do it anymore, it’s really frustrating.”  

After the second cancer attack. Grover and his family sought out the help of Jacey’s Race. After the nonprofit helped Grover out, he and his loved ones also partnered with Community Cancer Services to continue the fight. Associates of the two organizations came away impressed with Grover’s steadfastness.

“He has dealt with chemotherapy treatments and getting a prosthetic leg fitted while continuing to work at Dubs, keeping up with his classes and dealing with all the other issues a graduating senior has to deal with,” said Nanci Jenkins, one of Jacey’s Race’s founders. “I can’t imagine doing all of that myself as an adult, let alone as a teenager.”

Throughout the tough times, Grover relied on the support of his mother Diane, his father Bruce, his sisters Katie and Heidi and his brother Matthew. His girlfriend, Madison Mayo, and her family also helped him out a lot. Finally, the family of Tina and Bruce Mouser proved incredibly supportive.

“They helped me out so much through this process, I consider them blood relatives,” he said.

After graduation, Grover plans to take a year and focus on his health. He has a big bone graft surgery coming up that will involve supplement the skeletal structure along his jaw. However, he’s taking the upcoming fight in stride.

“I’ve heard a lot about the surgeon and he’s in high demand,” he said. “I’m not too nervous about it. I trust the doctors.”

Once he kicks this latest round of cancer, Grover plans on gaining the necessary professional training to be an auto mechanic. In the meantime, he’s simply glad to have graduation in his sights.

“It’s a relief to finally be here,” he said.