Patient Ambassador, Alec. You may recognize 16-year-old Alec from the various commercials for Shriners Hospitals for Children that have aired nationally.
What condition does Alec have?
Alec is One in a Million
Alec was born with brittle bone disease, which means his bones can break very easily. Without help from friends like you, Alec would have been forced to sit on the sidelines while other kids had all the fun. But, thanks to your support, Alec is making amazing progress every day.
Who are Alec cabacungan parents?
He is the only son of Alma Cabacungan and Gill Cabacunngan. His mom shared that it was really unnerving for her to think about the child’s condition when the specialist educated her, she reviewed. Furthermore, he has three sisters named Juilies, Julie Christian, and Isabella.
Who is Alec on Shriners commercial?
Peter Smith with Alec Cabacungan, who has been his patient at Shriners Children’s Chicago for 19 years. “When I was in sixth or seventh grade, someone from administration asked my family and I to participate in a commercial fundraising effort for the hospital,” Cabacungan says.
What religion is the Shriners?
The Shriners are not a religious organization as such, even though spiritual belief is a fundamental principle for the group — Shriners are Freemasons, who must profess a belief in a supreme being in some form, and who make use of Bibles in their rituals.
Is Alec from Shriners Filipino?
Alec, a patient of Shriners Hospitals for Children — Chicago, has become a popular television star and has captured the hearts of many with his adorable smile and charming personality. The Filipino American lives in the suburbs of Chicago, and is quite the active teenager.
Does brittle bone disease affect teeth?
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta (DI)
DI has a variable effect on the colour, shape, and wear of both primary and permanent teeth. If someone has OI and DI, all of their teeth may not be affected to the same degree. Teeth affected by DI have essentially normal enamel, but the DEJ and the dentin are not normal.
How long does someone with osteogenesis imperfecta live?
The median survival time in the OI cohort was 72.4 years for males (compared to 81.5 years in the reference population) and 77.4 for females (compared to 84.5 in the reference population).
What causes brittle bone disease?
Brittle bone disease is passed down through families, or inherited. It’s caused by a defect in a gene that is supposed to make a substance called collagen. Collagen is a protein in your body that forms and strengthens bones. If you don’t have enough of it, your bones become very weak and will break easily.
What is Alec from Shriners doing now?
He now plays wheelchair sports, appears on television and attends college. He embodies the hope and confidence families and children find at Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Does Alec from Shriners go to Northwestern University?
He’s the SpokesKid for Shriners Hospitals for Children… and he’s a Shriners Kid, himself. Now, Alec is preparing to go to Northwestern University Fall 2020. He wants to pursue his basketball playing, and demonstrate success to other kids and the world.
What is Alec from Shriners studying in college?
He is also a college freshman, studying journalism. The Shriners hospital network is run by the Shriners International masonic society. OI is a genetic disorder that leads to weak bones, meaning they can break easily.
What disease does Alec cabacungan have?
Boy Alec Cabacungan, 11, not letting ‘brittle bone disease’ slow him down. Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disorder that causes bones to break easily.
Is a Shriner higher than a Mason?
Members of the Masonic lodges are required to learn about their fraternity and earn a series of Masonic degrees. When a member has completed the third and final degree he becomes a Master Mason and is then eligible to become a Shriner.
Are there black Shriners?
The white Shriners invited the black Shriners to their circus, and the tradition has continued ever since. The black Shriners are also nationwide contributors to Shriners Hospitals, the major philanthropy of the historically-white group.
Can a woman be a Shriner?
They both support the Shriners Hospitals and promote sociability, and membership in either organization is open to any woman 18 years of age and older who is related to a Shriner or Master Mason by birth or marriage.
Why do Shriners drive little cars?
“The purpose of these novelty vehicle units is to promote fun and brotherhood, as well as to generate awareness for the fraternity and Shriners Hospitals for Children.” Drivers in the Araba Shriners says they love what they do for one big reason: The smiles.
Why do Shriners wear fez hats?
The fez is one of the most recognizable symbols of Shriners International and was adopted as the Shriners’ official headgear in 1872. Named after the city of Fez, Morocco, the hat represented the Arabian theme the fraternity was founded on. It also serves as an outward symbol of one’s membership in the fraternity.
Was Danny Thomas a Shriner?
Danny Thomas
He was a active Shriner and also the founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Initiated, passed, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason at Gothic Lodge #270 F&AM located at Hamilton Square, NJ on March 15, 1984 by special dispensation of the NJ Grand Master.
What are ghost teeth?
Regional odontodysplasia (RO) is a rare condition that gives teeth a fuzzy appearance in x-rays. These shadowy images are why this disorder has been given the more memorable nickname, “ghost teeth.” But regional odontodysplasia doesn’t just impact how your teeth look.
Is brittle bone disease painful?
Does brittle bone disease cause pain? The defective brittle bones themselves are not painful, but chronic pain may develop in some people with osteogenesis imperfecta due to repeated fractures and skeletal changes. Pain may also result from acute injuries such as fractures.
What is Shell teeth?
Shell teeth, a rare dysplastic condition of dentin, was first described by Rushton in 1954. It is characterized by normal enamel, extremely thin dentin, correspondingly large pulp chambers, and shortened roots.
What is Alec from Shriners doing now?
He now plays wheelchair sports, appears on television and attends college. He embodies the hope and confidence families and children find at Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Can a woman be a Shriner?
They both support the Shriners Hospitals and promote sociability, and membership in either organization is open to any woman 18 years of age and older who is related to a Shriner or Master Mason by birth or marriage.
Is Shriners Hospital legit?
The Shriners Hospital for Children is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 1937, and donations are tax-deductible. Is this your nonprofit? Access the Nonprofit Portal to submit data and download your rating toolkit.
