A former Baker County High School baseball player died this week after brain surgery and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants.
Colby Hodges,19, battled cancer for more than two years. His mother, Michelle Hodges, said watching the progression of her son's illness was very difficult.
She said she wants people to remember her son's positive outlook on life.
"We spent the last week with him, just precious time," she said. "Every day Colby would, he would wake up and face a new day."
I met Colby in 2016, even while battling cancer, he had a big smile on his face. It didn't take me long to realize he was special. Colby passed away over the weekend, his mother talked about her son, and how she wants him to be remembered. @ActionNewsJax 5:55 pic.twitter.com/uEDlwg3IoP
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) March 13, 2018
Action News Jax interviewed the teen twice in 2016. He said his love of the game motivated him to get better -- and that his goal was to get back on the baseball field.
Colby began playing baseball when he was 4 years old. He wanted to go attend the University of Florida.
For the past few months, Colby was helping coach youth baseball. His mother said she was so proud of her son, who loved to help children.
“There’s so many things I could say about him," she said. "I had 19 wonderful, wonderful years with him.”
The Wildcat Warrior Foundation was created in Colby’s memory. It aims to raise money for local children with illnesses and their families.
To find out how you can help, visit the foundation's website.
"There's so many things I could say about him, I had 19 wonderful, wonderful years with him. " A mother reflects on the life of her son after his battle with Cancer. How the Baker County community is remembering #ColbyHodges. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/c8uY7qVb8v
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) March 13, 2018
Tonight Former #BakerCountyHigh baseball Colby Hodges mother tells me about her sons fight with cancer, and how the community will remember him. @ActionNewsJax at 5:55 pic.twitter.com/oFFkneI82N
— Bridgette Matter (@bridgetteANjax) March 13, 2018
Cox Media Group