Celebrating Our Mountain Shadows Mothers |
Your Donation Will be DOUBLED Today! You can Make TWICE the Impact In the Lives of Residents Like Alex |
Mountain Shadows Superhero: Alex – Bearer of Joy |
Thanks to a Generous Donation from the Gaspare Family Trust
YOU Can Be A Superhero Too! |
In Honor of our Mountain Shadows Mothers
Your DONATION will be DOUBLED up to $8,500! |
Honoring Our Mountain Shadows Mothers The Rise of Alex: A Mountain Shadows Superhero
(Natalie and Alex Canales) |
Alex and his mother, Natalie Canales, MSCH-Riverside, RN, waiting for the fireworks to start on the 4th of July in Oregon. |
by Sheryl Wilde
The Rise of Alex: A Mountain Shadows Superhero There is a place where angels dwell on earth. We call that place Mountain Shadows. It is a place of magic and miracles. A place where lives are changed, and saved. A place where love and caring abound through some of life’s most challenging times. It is at this place where our Superhero, Alex, a tiny baby with an ailing heart found refuge, and healing, and touched our lives with even more. |
Alex and his father, Josh, at Family Lunch Day at school. |
As was chronicled in years past in this blog, the story of Alex began with tragedy. Born with a rare and serious congenital heart defect, Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), Alex’s prognosis was grim. Left untreated, more than fifty percent of infants born with TGA die in the first month of life. Ninety percent die in the first year. By the time Alex was three months old, he had suffered two cardiac arrests, undergone open heart surgery, developed a life-threatening case of sepsis, and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. And yet, against all odds, little Alex survived. And, when he was just 4 months old, he was released from the hospital and placed at MSCH-Riverside’s Hill House. And this is when the miracles began. |
Alex and his grandfather, Richard, enjoying lunch together. |
When he first arrived at Mountain Shadows, Alex was mostly unresponsive to the Hill house staff. No one was sure if he could see or hear. He couldn’t eat on his own and required six g-tube feedings per day, with each feeding taking an hour or more.
But, with his big brown eyes, and perpetual smile – despite his suffering – all of the staff quickly fell in love with Alex. He always wanted to be carried, so staff members would carry him everywhere, pulling his feeding tube and pole along behind them as they worked around the house. |
Alex and his grandmother, Yvonne, at his aunt’s wedding. Alex was the ring bearer. |
Natalie was the RN at Hill house when Alex arrived. “The staff was amazing with Alex. They worked with him every day, and by the time he was about 2 1/2, he was learning to crawl.
“While I was working, Alex would sneak up and put things in my backpack. I wouldn’t always see him do it, but when I got home, I would find the toys and things he hid in there.”
The two forged a strong bond. |
Alex and his mom, Natelie, after Trick or Treating last Halloween. |
As our Superhero’s story continued to unfold, so did destiny. Natalie’s bond with Alex grew ever deeper and, when he came up for adoption, she knew, “The first time Alex looked in my eyes and smiled at me, I knew that I loved him. I knew I really, really loved him, and I had to take him home.” After a 2-year process, the adoption was finalized. “Many people thought the decision to adopt a special needs child would have been difficult. For me, it was the opposite. I couldn’t imagine not having Alex in my life anymore.” Natalie’s husband, Josh, had met and become involved in Alex’s life as well. When Natalie mentioned adopting Alex, Josh didn’t hesitate to agree.
“The first time I met Alex, I was at one of the Mountain Shadows picnics,” says Josh. “I think he was about 5 or 6 months old, and it was amazing. He was just this amazing little boy. He was the cutest little boy and it was easy to fall in love with him. “When Natalie asked me about adopting him, I knew he would be better off with us than anyone else. I knew he had a lot of medical needs. Natalie is a registered nurse, and I have medical training as well. I knew we could take care of him and give him the best possible life.” |
Alex relaxing in his room. He enjoys making a little nest out of his toys and beanbag chair. |
Josh continues, “When we brought him home, we knew he had a pending heart surgery. Just two months after he came home, he had open heart surgery. “The surgery was very, very hard to go through with him. It was very tough, but Alex, he’s very strong.” |
Alex on the Oregon coast. |
As a new arc in life dawned, The Rise of Alex truly began.
Says Natalie, “When we first took Alex home, the doctors said if he wouldn’t have had that initial surgery (Ross procedure at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles), he would likely have had less than a year to live. They said if everything went well with the surgery, and there were no further issues, he might have decades to live.
“However, they have since been having a rough time managing his pulmonary stenosis. The work they did during his 1st surgery in 2016 and the way they had to fix his heart, makes one of his pulmonary arteries difficult to stent, so they have to do a balloon valvoplasty whenever it becomes too narrow.
“His other pulmonary artery does have a stent and they have to go in and replace the stent when it becomes too narrow. He also has a mechanical pulmonary valve that they have said will likely need to be changed around the 10 year mark. We haven’t asked about his life expectancy now, due to these issues. I think we would rather not know.
Adds Josh, “We’re just going to give him the best life possible as long as he is with us.” |
Alex and Natalie at Legoland. |
Today, Alex is 9 years old. “Alex is able to walk around pretty independently now,” says Natalie. “That’s been huge. He has a walker, but he doesn’t like to use it because it slows him down. He likes to be on the go. “Alex is in third grade and he loves school and has lots of friends. He has a one-to-one aid, and receives speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy both at home and at school.
“We’ve been able to take him off one of his g-tube feedings, so he can eat a pureed meal by mouth. That’s easier on him. If there’s a party at school, they can puree his food, and he’s able to eat alongside his classmates.
“Alex uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device that helps him communicate. And we’re all learning sign language together!
“As with most little boys, Alex loves legos, video games – and superheros.”
Adds Josh, “Alex’s superpower is bringing light and joy to others. When he walks into any room, he just lights up everybody’s faces.” |
Alex and Josh at a petting zoo in Oregon. |
“We just love Alex to pieces,” says Yvonne, Alex’s grandmother. “I’m a retired special education teacher, so I think it was meant to be that God gifted him to us as a family. I have the training to help my daughter know how to best help him.
“My favorite times with Alex are when I get to sit and read with him, and I give him little kisses. When he started kissing me back, that was really special. Richard, my husband, likes to wrestle with him. Alex is Richard’s little buddy.
“Alex is learning and growing! He can do his ABC’s now.
“It’s been so positive for my Natalie to have grown and learned to be a mom in such an amazing way. She’s taken on so many challenges. We’re so proud of her.
“From Alex, our whole family, we have learned joy.” |
Alex and Lego character, Wildstyle, at Legoland. |
As is fitting in the story of The Rise of Alex, a miracle transpired last Thanksgiving.
Explains Natalie, “As the whole family was sitting around the table eating, Alex suddenly said, ‘All done!’ And we were all like, ‘What?!?!’ Alex does say mama. But other than mama, that was the first thing any of us had heard him say – ever! Everybody was so excited.” Adds Josh, “Alex has really been trying hard with his sounds. He’s verbalizing the best he can. He’s doing 8 sounds now. And he just lights up and gets so excited when he makes a sound. It’s incredible to see.” |
Alex in his Grinch sweater for Grinch Day at school. |
“Alex has really fulfilled our lives,” says Natalie. “He’s the joy of our life.
“Alex was born 4 days after my husband and I got married. It was like he came just for us! He’s the perfect piece to complete our family.
“I will always be grateful to Mountain Shadows. They gave me my son. It’s just the biggest blessing of my life. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
“Mountain Shadows goes above and beyond for the residents. They put the residents first. Without their loving care, and dedication to work with him, Alex would not be the happy young boy he is today.”
Adds Josh, “Mountain Shadows is amazing. They really do care about all of the residents. They are so involved with each and every one of them. They are amazing people.
“Alex has brought an amazing amount of joy to our lives. That’s his superpower. He has given us a completely different insight into life and what’s important. He brightens our lives immensely. He’s such a bright light. He’s changed everything for the better.” |
There are souls in this world who have the gift of finding joy everywhere they go, and leaving it behind them wherever they go. ~Frederick William Faber
We believe real superpowers sometimes live within the hearts and souls of small children fighting big battles. And we believe Alex to be such a soul.
We are grateful to have helped him, even in a small way, to build a strong foundation of health and well-being, so that he could become the Bearer of Joy he was destined to be. |
Mountain Shadows Superhero Alex: Bearer of Joy
Alex thank you for sharing your superpower with us! |
YOU Can Be a Superhero Today for Residents Like Alex!
Thanks to a Generous Donation from the Gaspare Family Trust |
In Honor of our Mountain Shadows Mothers
Your DONATION will be DOUBLED up to $8,500! |
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The Mountain Shadows Foundation – Because We CARE |
Thanks to YOUR SUPPORT, the Mountain Shadows CARE program provides recreational and social experiences to residents and participants adding meaning and richness to their lives.
It’s easy for you to help us continue to provide activities like this – activities that improve the quality of our residents’ lives in fulfillment of their dreams. Here are some ways you can help ensure these crucial activities can continue for years to come: -
Make a one-time donation today by clicking on the donate button below.
- Make a monthly or annual contribution.
- Leave a Legacy Gift.
To learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society, to include us in your estate plan, or to let us know if you have already designated Mountain Shadows to receive a legacy gift, please contact Mandy Huiras, Director of Development at: mhuiras@mtnshadows.org, or visit our website by clicking here:
Learn More About the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society Please share this story with your family, friends and co-workers to help grow our Mountain Shadows Family!
To learn more about Mountain Shadows volunteer opportunities, please click below:
Learn about Mountain Shadows Volunteer Opportunities Here |
Mandy Huiras
Mountain Shadows Foundation Director of Development
Contact Mandy today to learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation and how you can continue to make a difference in the lives of our residents:
mhuiras@mtnshadows.org |
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