06/10/2026
Koda’s Journey with Children's Mercy
When 4-year-old Koda began getting sick in the mornings, his parents never imagined the cause would be a rare brain tumor. After several concerning episodes, imaging at Children’s Mercy revealed an ependymoma, a rare pediatric brain tumor requiring emergency surgery.
During surgery, doctors discovered part of the tumor attached to Koda’s brainstem. After difficult conversations with the care team, his parents chose to move forward with complete removal.
Hours later, Koda was awake, smiling and talking — a moment his family describes as overwhelming relief.
Following surgery and radiation treatment, Koda is back to being a typical little boy. Today, he loves baseball, fishing, bike riding, drums and spending time with his family.
His family says the expert care and support they received through Children’s Mercy helped guide them through every step of the journey.
“We just want him to be a normal kid,” Ryan said. “And thanks to the care he received, he gets to be.”
