Cody's Story

You may have heard some of Cody's story at our 2025 Hospice Waikato & Montana Food and Events Bucket List Banquet, or you may have read his story in our June 2025 newsletter.  If that's the case, please take a moment to watch Cody's video which was filmed in both our Inpatient Unit where he has stayed for respite care, and in his home.  You  can find the link below.

If you haven't read Cody's full story, please take a moment to read this overview, and then listen to Cody talk about his illness in his own words.

Cody Hill had a typical kiwi childhood!  He was adventurous, some would say overly energetic, and fearless.  A bit of an adrenalin junky, he had that ‘jack arse’ mentality where he wanted to experience crazy feats and push himself out of his comfort zone.  He loved to skate.

Cody lives in Whitianga with wife and soul mate, Deb.  He has two young daughters, Ella (aged 9) and Stormy (aged 7), and he had a very tight group of best mates who have always absolutely loved him for his energy and positivity, and now they love and support him as, at 36 years of age, he battles advanced Motor Neurone Disease.

Cody’s Motor Neurone Disease story began about four years ago, after he had a horrific injury to his leg as the result of a skateboarding accident.  It was about that time that he noticed some small but unusual failings of his body, he’d drop a glass of water or struggle to do the ‘thumbs up’ sign.

It was a physio who, while helping him recover from his skateboarding injury, talked to Cody about these unusual things he was noticing, and encouraged him to get to get checked out.

Cody remembers the day he was finally diagnosed and his disease has progressed quickly in the past three years.  When we caught up with Cody in January of this year, the disease had impacted his mobility and speech, and from time to time, his breathing was laboured. 

What Cody hasn’t lost, though, is his positivity and his love of life.  Cody is reflective, grateful and very thankful for his family and friends.  Life is very difficult, without a doubt.  Cody doesn’t qualify for ACC and the WINZ subsidy doesn’t cover their mortgage.  Deb has given up her job to be Cody’s full-time caregiver and although for many years, Cody had worked as an electrician, hating his job but loving the money, now his perspective has changed.  It’s not money that is important, it’s people, and time, and looking up to see the sun.

In Cody’s video, we talk to Cody and two of his best mates, Andrew and Zak, and Hospice Waikato Nurse Niamh, about Cody’s journey.  Andrew and Zak are the kind of best mates everyone wants.  They are funny, they tease Cody endlessly, and they will stand beside him every step of the way.

Niamh epitomises hospice care.  She knows when to laugh with Cody, she understands what he needs, and she cares for him with dignity and kindness.

And Cody shares some incredible insights about his life, and life in general, and about the incredible difference Hospice Waikato has made during these last three years.