By Elizabeth Owens, Des Moines Register Staff Writer
Used with permission of the Des Moines Register
December 27, 2005
To know Alec Freese is to make his good health your holiday wish.
In September doctors diagnosed an inoperable brain tumor in the Urbandale two-year-old. He endured six weeks of radiation at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City that stabilized and slightly shrank the tumor. From here, it is hopes and prayers as his parents work with doctors to figure out what's next.
Alec will have an MRI at the end of January to show if there's been improvement.
"We're going for that miracle, aren't we, Alec?" said his mother, Cindy Freese. But between doctor's visits, Alec got his wish: He went to Disney World with a little help from his friends in the radiation oncology department at the hospital.
The diagnosis
Alec's road to Iowa City was relatively short.
One Sunday in September, the Freeses noticed some things about Alec that concerned them. He was limping on his right side. Kevin Freese, a credit analyst for Wells Fargo Bank, said he had joked previously that his son was becoming a lefty because he favored that side, but the limp was more worrisome. They tried to make Alec eat with his right hand, but he had much less control.
Kevin said his first thought was that Alec had had a stroke. The Freeses went to the emergency room in Des Moines and then to UI Hospitals and Clinics the next day. They tried to learn as much as they could, but the news wasn't good. Alec had an inoperable brain tumor.
The Freeses settled into Iowa City for the long haul. The family of Cindy's cousin let the Freeses stay in their condo while they were in town, and Cindy's mother stayed with her in Iowa City when Kevin had to work. The Freeses also had help from other family members, friends and neighbors, and Kevin's employer allowed him to work out of the Coralville office when he needed to.
"Under the circumstances, we were blessed in many ways," Cindy said.
The donation
When Alec, who turned 2 on December 19, was going through radiation, his parents dreamed of taking their son to Disney World to meet Winnie the Pooh and his other favorite characters.
At first, they inquired about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but when they learned that Alec was too young--the cutoff is 2 1/2--the Freeses decided to take Alec's dream trip anyway.
"I didn't want to take the chance of waiting," Cindy said.
The Freeses booked a week-long trip starting Dec. 10, but on Alec's last day of treatment in November, they learned they wouldn't be paying for the whole trip after all. The radiation oncology employees told the Freeses they were collecting money for the trip.
Almost the entire department--about 50 people--pitched in to give Alec his wish. They sent the Freeses $2,300.
"Instead of doing the little Christmas gifts amongst each other, we decided to put whatever we normally spent toward Alec's trip to Disney World," said Jennifer Kos, Alec's radiation therapist.
The Freeses said they couldn't believe the compassion of the people who had treated Alec.
"They took us in, and they really took care of us," Cindy Freese said as she almost started to cry again.
The caregivers
Those who cared for Alec can still picture him, Pooh in hand, running up and down the halls, or watching his Baby Einstein movies. And they knew all about his love for animals.
Kos said she felt the family's hurt when they learned Alec was too young for Make-A-Wish.
"A little boy like this, he should be able to go somewhere, too," Kos said.
Those who chipped in said putting the money toward Alec's trip was better than exchanging gifts.
"It was much more rewarding for everyone and to know that Alec was going to be able to go there and have some memories of Walt Disney World," Kos said.
Laurie Smith, administrator for the department, helped put the idea into action. She said she heard from Kos that Make-A-Wish wasn't going to work for Alec's family, and then another staff member suggested they should adopt a family instead of exchanging gifts. Smith said she put the two together and sent out an e-mail asking people to donate to Alec.
Smith said she told everyone Alec's story in the e-mail, "but we thought everybody knew him just because he's so darn cute. Everybody just loved him. He's just a little sweetie."
Kos said this is the first time they've done anything like this and they now hope to do it every year.
The trip
Besides his family, giraffes and Pooh are some of the most important figures in Alec's life. That's evident the moment one enters Alec's home--he keeps stuffed versions of both creatures close at hand.
The Freese family stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge on their trip to Florida. The draw there? Giraffes. Right outside the window. Alec would wake up and want to see the giraffes, his parents said. But he didn't forget his friend Pooh. Alec held up Pooh to see the giraffes, too, his parents said.
Alec went to a character lunch with Pooh--his own stuffed Pooh in hand--and visited Sea World. He didn't want to leave and he wants to go back.
"It's amazing how much he got out of it," Cindy said.
The Freeses said they still plan to apply with Make-A-Wish once Alec is 2 1/2. They hope that Make-A-Wish can help them because they'd like to take the trip again. They're ready for Disney World, part two.
Cindy said she thinks Alec would enjoy the trip even more a second time because everything would be familiar for him.
Today
As the Freeses watch their chatty kid now, they remember the weeks of radiation when Alec wasn't himself.
"It was a time period where he just wanted to be held," Cindy said.
But now he giggles and shows off for guests. He and his dad run around the house together each day when Kevin gets home from work. His parents watch his happy smile with pure joy. They're glad to have Alec's personality back.
They said they loved watching him take in everything on the trip, and they are so grateful for the department's help in paying for it.
"We'd certainly give it all back, though, for his health," Cindy said.
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