James Cudjo (Mr. C) Medical Expense Support

Hello friends,

My name is Cody Sze. I am a former student of Mr. James Cudjo’s, but while writing this, I realized Mr. C never really stopped teaching me. The lessons he taught me as an adolescent have extended far beyond the bounds of any classroom and have proved timeless through the trials and tribulations of early adulthood. Like many of you or your children, I had the pleasure of having Mr. Cudjo as a middle and high school teacher, where he taught us about history, natural history—and the value and importance of understanding it. I was also fortunate enough to be his TA one year, and that’s when 13-year-old me learned that when Mr. Cudjo talks, you listen because everything he said was absolutely fucking gold. Better yet, I could open up to him and be heard. He was one of the few teachers that truly listened to their students. He made them feel important and respected in their opinions, but he wasn’t afraid to challenge them. Those students, written off and labeled negatively by the rest of the school faculty, were always warmly invited to honestly speak on their internal distress underlying their “conduct/defiant/juvenile behaviors” with him. His tough love especially embraced them. He always had the biggest heart, but man, you did not want to piss him off. He was always well-balanced. He was assertive, respectful, intelligent, humble, and intimidating yet comforting. He touched countless young people's lives during his years as an educator. For instance, he wrote in my high school yearbook, “Mr. Sze, Few people are blessed with the strength of mind and of body! You have been blessed with both, do not use one more than the other!”

Fast forward almost a decade, and I am studying clinical psychology in my 8th year of college. I chose to pursue a doctorate in psychology after high school instead of playing division 3 or junior college football, partially because of what Mr. Cudjo wrote in my yearbook. Ironically, Mr. C recently went back to school to earn his master’s degree in psychology and began practicing as an individual therapist and providing coaching, mentoring, and consulting services (shameless plug: https://mycrd.is/blckbrryconsulting). A few months ago, when I was visiting family back home, Mr. Cudjo found some time in his busy schedule to link up with me over coffee. To say I was burnt out from school at that point would be an understatement. Still, something about our mutual, newly-found love for psychology strengthened our bond that morning. Hearing his plans for his practice while connecting over that conversation helped reignite my passion for persisting with my degree. He had so many beautiful plans to continue impacting others’ lives positively. I guess he felt he hadn’t worked hard enough to serve others as a military veteran and former educator. He has always had the biggest heart.

In class this past week, my phone lit up with the picture above in a message. I was immediately worried because, in September, Mr. Cudjo was diagnosed with COVID-19 and unknowingly developed blood clots throughout his body. In October, he underwent surgery to amputate his left leg to save his life. Now here we are in November. To my surprise, his blood clots continued to multiply, and some lodged into that huge heart of his. Despite the pervasive influence our teacher, listener, friend, mentor, therapist, coach, military veteran, father figure, and big brother had on so many of us for the better, this unwelcome sickness has tragically continued to spread throughout him for the worse.

I have created this fundraiser page to help accumulate funds through donations to assist our friend with his medical expenses and whatever would be most helpful given his regrettable circumstances. I believe this is the least I can do for my big brother James, that many of ya’ll feel the same as I do and would love to help in any way you could. I also believe if we all work together and remember that we are all on the same team in this crazy world of ours, just like Mr. Cudjo taught us, we can blow the top off this donation goal and give back to him by reducing some of the stress and financial burden these medical complications carry. He has always liked the quote, “we are all things to all people,” and now we can help one of the best humans I know, just as he has helped many of us.