OR: Mom Seeks Answers In Disabled Boy's Injury

POSTED: 7:12 am PST December 11, 2008
UPDATED: 7:38 am PST December 11, 2008

http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?s=9515192

GRESHAM, Ore. -- The mother of a 14-year-old disabled boy said she is searching for answers after her son came home from school with a broken leg.

Mona Martin said neither she nor the school can figure out what happened to her son, who she described as a vibrant boy who loves attending Pathways Community School in Gresham.

Last Friday, Martin noticed something was wrong. After the bus dropped 14-year-old Cody Martin off from school, he was unable to walk.

"He just screamed," Martin said. "He doesn't talk, but he just made this ungodly sound.

Martin took her son to the doctor the following day, where she found out he had a broken leg. Because her son can't speak, Martin said she's unable to get any answers, even from school officials.

"Something happened to him or someone did something to him and no one knows exactly what it was," she said.

Martin said her son was born with cerebral palsy and has a mild mental handicap.

She filed a report with Gresham police, who said they're investigating the injury as a possible child abuse case. Meanwhile, Cody Martin's brother and sister said they can't imagine anyone intentionally hurting him. They said he's a loving boy with a compassionate heart.

"We saw a lady who was in the hospital whose husband was just diagnosed with cancer," said Sarah Guiles, Cody's sister. "And he went up to her and gave her a hug."

The Multnomah Education Service District officials said they're gathering more facts on the case and will be receiving legal advice. They said they cannot release much information because of student privacy rights.