Cory Stalling was born and raised in Missoula, Montana.
But you may have met the 23-year-old, swimming or kayaking in Long Island Sound, or zipping around downtown Westport in his wheelchair while visiting family here.
Cory Stalling
If you lived in Westport between 1956 (when Cory’s grandparents Ed Sr. and Barbara bought a house on Hickory Drive) and 2015 (when Barbara passed away), you likely knew a Stalling or two.
Maybe all 7.
Ed Sr., who died in 2003, was scoutmaster of Troop 36 for more than 30 years, and a popular boat guard at Compo’s Ned Dimes Marina, where he enjoyed telling a lifetime’s worth of fishing stories. There is a plaque at the marina in his honor.
He and Barbara, a longtime Post Office employee, raised 5 children here. All graduated from Staples High School: Susan (Class of 1974), Ed Jr. (’76), Bob (’78), Dave (’79) and Tim (’85).
After serving in a Marine Corps Force Recon Unit, Dave Stalling moved to Montana. He married Christine Trimp. In 2000 they had a son, Cory.
“In December 2008, when Cory was 8, I took him skiing for his last time,” Dave recalls. “Prior to that he loved it. But that day he kept falling, got frustrated and wanted to stop. His legs no longer held him up.”
Soon after he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic, fatal, muscular degenerative disease for which there is no cure.
He is on medication that slows the disease’s progression. More treatments are being developed now. There is hope a cure may be found soon.
Cory Stalling and friend.
In the meantime, Dave says, “he lives life to the fullest. He’s grown into an amazing young man – smart, happy, fun, adventurous, and more independent than his mom and I could ever have hoped for.
“He goes to the University of Montana. He studies environmental science, he drives, lives in an apartment, loves to canoe, camp, fish, cook and write poetry. We couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Of course, living independently with DMD isn’t easy.
“It can be difficult to adjust to things without my parents at school, but I have people who can help when I need it,” says Cory.
Cory Stalling, enjoying Montana’s Big Sky Country.
A major challenge as he navigates an independent life is transportation. The Stalling family does not have an appropriate vehicle to rely on for visiting each other, attending medical appointments, or transporting Cory during daily activities. Cory’s parents must lift him in and out of their car, then take apart his manual wheelchair to fit into their vehicle. That is not safe, as his power chair provides more stability and independence.
“I’m often late to appointments or have to reschedule them because I don’t have the correct transportation,” Cory says. “School is very important to me, so having a safe, reliable way of getting to and from campus would help my family a lot.”
Accessible vehicles are not cheap. Even used ones cost $60,000 to $70,000. Recently, Cory applied for and received a competitive award from the nonprofit Jett Foundation. The Accessible Vehicle Fund branch of the Jett Giving Fund will match half the cost of an accessible vehicle — if Cory raises the other half.
Cory is working to raise $33,500. You can help him attain freedom and independence by clicking here.
Cory has created a Facebook page to keep people updated on his efforts. Click here to see.
Cory Stalling with his dad Dave, at last year’s Missoula Pride Festival.
