Community helps family

HOUSTON - Houston High School freshman Cody Dennis lost his battle with a form of bone cancer on Oct. 10, 2011. Cody received treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital beginning Dec. 13, 2010.

Throughout Cody's battle, Houston High School, Houston Middle School and the community supported Cody and his family in amazing ways.

"We were constantly sending him gifts," said David Porter, his basketball coach at Houston High.

Porter said they sent gift cards, hats, blankets and various other gifts to Cody while he was in the hospital. Houston also sent a basketball jersey and game ball signed by everyone on the team from the Hawks' 2011 Nikiski Tournament Championship game.

"Cody was spoiled rotten," said Misty Dennis, Cody's mother. "They made sure that he knew that people were thinking of him."

On May 27, 2011, at Houston Middle School's eighth-grade promotion ceremony, Cody felt like he was there with the rest of his class, via a Skype connection set up so he and his parents to see and hear the promotion.

"They made us feel like we were in the room with them and not sitting in a hospital room 2,236 miles away," Misty Dennis said.

Throughout the time Cody was in the hospital, there were many fundraisers initiated by the community.

"Different people who knew us would help," Misty Dennis said. "When we came back from Washington, there were people doing things that I didn't even know about."

On July 9, 2011, Northern Industrial Training organized a fundraiser to help the Dennis family with expenses. The fundraiser included a garage sale, bake sale, barbeque, live music and a silent auction.

"NIT helped raise over $20,000 to help save our house," Misty Dennis said.

Over the summer of 2011, Nicky Richter, Houston High School math teacher, helped organize a car wash and bake sale to help raise money for the Dennis family.

"Many of Cody's friends and family came out to help raise money," Richter said. "It was really cool to see everyone helping out."

He said the car wash was such a success that at one point, the line was 10-cars deep.

"Everyone kept working hard for a good cause," he said. "The kids were so excited and wanting to help raise money that at one point they thought it'd be a good idea to stand in the middle of the intersection holding signs. The Wasilla Police Department had to escort them back to the car wash area. I love to see how supportive our community and student body is during times of need."

Altogether, the car wash and bake sale raised $3,000 for the Dennis family.

Houston High will again pay tribute to the Dennis family Jan. 19 when the Houston High basketball team will retire Cody's jersey, Porter said.

"We are going to play a video before the game that highlights Cody's life," Porter said.

Scott Ruta, the welding teacher at Houston High, is making a frame for Cody's jersey that hang in the gym, Porter said. Another frame and jersey also will be made as a gift for Cody's parents, Brian and Misty Dennis.

The family is grateful for the support.

"I'm amazed," Misty Dennis said. "I have a whole new respect for the community. People have come together here and helped us."

Holly Brett is a junior at Houston High School and a third-year journalism student.