Alex is your typical five year old boy who loves to run around, dance, play with his brother, and watch movies.  At such a young age Alex has been through more than any of us could imagine.  In July 2010, Alex had a stroke and after numerous tests and exams he was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 2011.

Since the stroke destroyed all the brain cells that controlled the left side of his body, the rest of his brain has had to learn to compensate. With no damage to the muscles themselves, for Alex and family it is a matter of learning how to control these muscles in a new way. Fortunately, the stroke did not impact his ability to reason or speak, so he is quite aware of his surroundings and can converse like any five year old. He has re-learned how to walk and run and can play with most of his peers, although he is slower. He has extremely limited use of his left hand and arm but intensive, almost daily, therapy has helped him recover most of his abilities.

Alex’s greatest love is animals of all kinds! Whether its knowledge of sharks, dolphins, owls or leopards, Alex has an aptitude for memorizing information about animals. He knows more than most adults when it comes to identifying different species and can easily differentiate between a sea lion, a leopard seal and an elephant seal; not an easy task! Although the details are yet to be decided, this animal lover knows that his wish will involve seeing animals of all different kinds.  The possibilities are endless!