Honored Kid

Alex Heck

Alex Heck Kid Photo

Location

Altoona, IA, US

Diagnosis

Brain or spinal cord tumor

Date of Diagnosis

March 2005

Status

Angel

Treated At

Mayo Clinic Rochester

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My Story

During Alex's treatment we found a child with far greater spirit than we had imagined. While undergoing the most aggressive types of chemotherapy we found a child that never complained of the pains caused by such caustic medicines. We found a child that quietly passed time on our laps or watching his favorite videos (Veggie Tales, Wiggles, or Shrek) while the pain subsided, so he could get back to having fun by going to the playroom or taking rides in the Little Tikes car up and down the hospital hallways. At a time when we expected to be there for him, he was there for us, inspiring us and raising our spirits with his courage. We were not alone in noticing Alex's spirit. He quickly became a favorite among the hospital staff as he greeted them with smiles and waves when he saw them on his frequent trips up and down the hallways. He was a helpful patient who quickly learned how to take out the thermometer and place it under his arm, hold up his Hickman line when it was time for heparin, and push down the plunger on the syringes of medicine he was receiving. We began to notice how Alex was lifting the spirits of almost everyone who crossed his path. As support came pouring in from his friends at daycare, we came to realize that this wasn't something new at all. He had always been this way. Alex had touched so many lives in such a short time. There is no better way to honor the spirt of this young boy than by helping those children who find themselves in a similar situation. Please support our efforts to find better treatments and cures for these young champions.

The Childhood Cancer Ripple Effect

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