Meet Cody, A Thrive Gives Member Healing From A Traumatic Brain Injury 

If you are in financial need—including EBT cardholders, families, students, teachers, veterans, nurses, and first responders—you qualify for a free one-year membership through Thrive Gives. With it, you’ll get access to member-only benefits from Thrive Market. Apply here. 

At Thrive Market, we believe that healthy living should be a right, not a privilege—which is why we created Thrive Gives, our membership program providing free annual memberships to those in need, including individuals and families who qualify for government assistance like SNAP EBT. In 2024 alone, we donated 445,000 Thrive Gives memberships, and we’ve now hit $17 million raised and donated for Food Equality—a significant portion of which goes toward funding shopping discounts for Thrive Gives members.

For members like Cody, this program offers access, independence, and recovery.

A Life-Altering Accident

Two and a half years ago, Cody’s life changed in an instant. While on vacation in Spain, he was in a moped accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him in a coma.

“The doctors told my mom that if I survived, I probably wouldn’t walk or talk again,” Cody recalls. “They even told her to just keep me comfortable in a wheelchair and play music I liked because my recovery wasn’t looking good.”

But his mother wasn’t ready to accept that prognosis. She left her job as a preschool teacher to be by his side through intensive neurological rehabilitation in Los Angeles, fighting for his recovery every step of the way.

Nutrition for Brain Health

Recovery from a brain injury is a long, grueling process not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Cody had to relearn how to walk, move, and even process information.

“Most people see the physical recovery, but what they don’t realize is the cognitive and emotional challenges are even harder,” he shares. “Regaining my ability to multitask, engage socially, and think clearly was so much more difficult than learning to move again.”

One thing that helped? A nutrient-dense, brain-boosting diet.

“I started researching how nutrition impacts brain injury recovery, and I found out that a ketogenic diet helps with brain healing,” Cody explains. “Once I started focusing on my diet, I noticed a huge improvement in my recovery.” Cody says that switching to a high-quality, low-carb, organic diet helped him overcome his brain fog, improve his mental clarity, and regain his strength—but accessing that food wasn’t always easy.

After returning to the U.S., Cody faced another major challenge: mobility. He wasn’t able to drive, struggled with stairs, and relied heavily on caregivers for day-to-day needs. Grocery shopping became nearly impossible.

“In the early stages of my recovery, I couldn’t go anywhere. I was either in a wheelchair or using a cane, and my house has a lot of steps,” he says. “So being able to get Thrive Market deliveries straight to my door was crucial.”

Cody had been a Thrive Market member since before his accident, so when he discovered that he could use his SNAP EBT to order healthy groceries, it was a game-changer. “As you can imagine, an accident like this isn’t fun financially,” he says. “When I found out I could use my SNAP benefits and get a free Thrive Gives membership, that was so clutch. I finally had access to the food I needed, and I could order organic, keto-friendly, high-quality products with just a few clicks.”

Food Access for Recovery 

Cody’s journey has been one of determination, resilience, and grit. Despite the initial prognosis, he relearned how to walk, snowboarded for the first time since his accident, and now has his sights set on surfing again.

“Doctors told my mom that if I lived, I wouldn’t make any kind of meaningful recovery,” he says. “But I’ve worked harder than I ever have in my life, and I’m proud of where I am today.” 

Through it all, we’re honored that Thrive Market has played a small role in making his journey a little bit easier.

“I’m so grateful for Thrive Market because it gives people like me—people going through hard times—access to healthy food,” Cody says. “It’s played a huge part in my recovery, not just because of the access, but because of the high-quality food that has helped me heal.”

Join the Fight for Food Equality

Cody’s story is just one of thousands that show the real impact of food accessibility. Every Thrive Market membership helps fund our Thrive Gives program, ensuring that more families can access the nutritious food they need.

Want to support our mission? If you or someone you know could benefit from a free Thrive Gives membership, apply here.