Claire Dawson
Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres, a patient ambassador at Shriners Hospitals for Children, has become a well-known figure due to his appearances in the hospital's advertisements and fundraising campaigns. Kaleb, who was born with brittle bone disease, has had over 200 bone fractures and 11 surgeries. In February 2021, rumours of his death circulated on social media, causing an outpouring of sympathy. However, these claims were false, as confirmed by the hospital and a video of Kaleb posted on their Twitter account. The rumours were a case of mistaken identity, with another child of the same name passing away. Kaleb's story has inspired many, and through donor support, Shriners Hospitals for Children has helped over 1.5 million children lead more fulfilling lives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres |
| Hospital | Shriners Hospitals for Children |
| Year | 2021 |
| Month | February |
| Date | 27 |
| Day | Saturday |
| Social Media Posts | Sympathy and condolence posts were made on Facebook and Twitter |
| Fact Check | False |
| Health Status | Alive and well |
| Cause of Rumours | Confused with another boy with the same name |
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What You'll Learn
Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres is alive and well
Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres has been a patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children since he was a newborn baby and has appeared in their advertisements and appeals to donors. Born with brittle bone disease, or osteogenesis imperfecta, he has broken his bones more than 200 times and has had 11 surgeries. He has undergone several challenges but has not let that stop him. In a video posted to Shriners' Twitter account on February 27, 2021, Kaleb appeared healthy and wished Shriners Hospitals Chairman of the Board, Jim Smith, a happy birthday. The hospital system's chief marketing officer, Mel Bower, also confirmed that Kaleb was doing very well.
Kaleb's personalized specialty care at Shriners Hospitals has changed his life and given his parents the support they need to stay strong for him. Through the generosity of donors, Shriners Hospitals has helped Kaleb become stronger than ever and learn to stand and walk on his own. Today, he continues to inspire others with his resilience and positive attitude.
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Kaleb has brittle bone disease
Kaleb Torres, a patient ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children, has osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. This is a genetic disorder that causes bones to be weak and break easily. Kaleb has had to undergo numerous surgeries due to this condition.
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of genetic disorders that affect the bones and other organs. The disease is characterised by bones that break easily, even from minimal injury or with no obvious cause. OI can range from mild to severe, with some people experiencing only a few fractures in their lifetime, while others may have hundreds of fractures. The disease can also cause other symptoms such as malformed or bowing of long bones, small stature, skin that bruises easily, loose joints, weak muscles, and breathing problems.
OI is caused by a defect in the genes that carry the instructions for making type I collagen, a material in bones that helps make them strong. This defect can cause the body to make collagen incorrectly or not make enough, leading to weak bones that are susceptible to fractures. The disease can be inherited from one or both parents, and anyone can be born with it, but those with a family history are at a greater risk.
There are at least eight different types of OI, which vary in severity and symptoms. For example, Type IV OI may present with mild to severe symptoms, and the child may not have any fractures until they start crawling or walking. Their bones may also not be straight, and they may not grow normally. Type V OI is similar to Type IV but is considered more severe, with common enlarged thickened areas where large bones are fractured. Type VI is very rare, with moderate symptoms similar to Type IV.
The treatment for OI aims to prevent deformities and fractures and help individuals function as independently as possible. This may include bisphosphonate medicines and, in some cases, metal rods may be surgically inserted into the long bones to improve strength.
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Shriners Hospitals provides life-changing care
In 2021, rumours circulated on social media that Shriners Hospitals patient ambassador Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres had passed away. These rumours were false, as confirmed by a representative for the hospital system and a video of Kaleb posted to Shriners' Twitter account.
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and other paediatric medical facilities across North America. Since opening its first location in 1922, the organisation has focused on improving the care and quality of life for children worldwide, providing life-changing care to patients in need. Shriners Children's offers a range of treatments for orthopaedic issues, burn injuries, craniofacial conditions, spine care, spinal cord injuries, and more. They also provide sports medicine and colorectal and gastrointestinal care.
Shriners Children's is committed to providing care for children regardless of their family's ability to pay. They have helped over 1.5 million children reach their potential and lead more fulfilling lives. The organisation is supported by the Masonic Shriners International fraternity and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
The hospitals' advertising campaigns feature patient ambassadors like Kaleb, who has appeared in Shriners' advertisements and appeals to donors throughout his childhood. Born with brittle bone disease, Kaleb has broken his bones more than 200 times and has undergone at least 11 surgeries. Through personalised specialty care, Shriners has changed the course of Kaleb's life and given his parents support and hope for their son's future.
In addition to providing medical treatment, Shriners Children's offers a supportive and fun atmosphere for patients and their families. They also partner with top medical research institutions to develop better treatments and enhance the knowledge and skills of health professionals worldwide.
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Social media users spread false information
In late February 2021, social media users spread misinformation about the death of Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres, a patient ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Kaleb, who has appeared in Shriners' advertisements and appeals for donations, has become a recognizable face due to years of fundraising.
Several social media users took to platforms like Facebook and Twitter to express their sympathy and sadness over the false news of Kaleb's death. One Facebook user posted, "R.I.P Kaleb.... I'm saddened over this news, I love seeing this sweet boy in the Shriners commercial." The post also included details about his purported death, claiming he died at 7 a.m. on a Wednesday after spending more than three years in hospice care at his South Whitehall Township home.
However, these claims were quickly debunked by Shriners Hospitals. The hospital system's chief marketing officer, Mel Bower, confirmed that Kaleb was alive and doing well. The statement clarified that the story being circulated involved another child with the same name and spelling, who was not associated with Shriners Hospitals for Children.
To further dispel the rumors, Shriners Hospitals posted a video on their Twitter account on February 27, 2021, showing Kaleb Torres healthy and dancing while wishing Shriners Hospitals Chairman of the Board, Jim Smith, a happy birthday. This provided additional evidence that the claims of Kaleb's death were false.
The spread of misinformation on social media highlights the importance of fact-checking and responsible sharing of information. It is crucial for users to verify the accuracy of information before sharing it with others to prevent the dissemination of false news that can cause confusion and unnecessary distress.
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Kaleb has undergone 11 surgeries
Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres, a patient ambassador at Shriners Hospitals for Children, has undergone 11 surgeries. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, Kaleb has broken his bones more than 200 times. He had his first surgery as a newborn and has been a Shriners patient ever since.
Kaleb has appeared in Shriners' advertisements and appeals to donors throughout his childhood. In late February 2021, some people took to social media to express sympathy after misinformed rumours claimed he had died. However, Shriners Hospitals confirmed that Kaleb was alive and doing well. A video posted to Shriners' Twitter account on February 27, 2021, showed Kaleb dancing and wishing Shriners Hospitals Chairman of the Board Jim Smith a happy birthday.
Kaleb's parents, Marie-Hélène and Alberto, have expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from Shriners Hospitals. They shared that the long-term, caring relationships with the hospital staff have given them the support they need to stay strong for Kaleb. Through the generosity of donors, Shriners Hospitals has been able to help more than 1.5 million children lead more fulfilling lives, regardless of their families' ability to pay.
Today, Kaleb is stronger than ever and is learning to stand and walk on his own. He hasn't let his condition stop him, and he continues to inspire others with his positive attitude and determination. Kaleb's story is a testament to the impact of specialized medical care and the support of donors in changing the lives of children and their families.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Kaleb is alive and well. In February 2021, social media users confused Shriners Hospitals' Kaleb with another boy of the same name who had died.
Kaleb is a patient ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children. He was born with brittle bone disease and has broken his bones more than 200 times, undergoing at least 11 surgeries.
Some people took to social media to express sympathy, after rumours claimed he had passed away. A Facebook user posted: "R.I.P Kaleb.... I'm saddened over this news, I love seeing this sweet boy in the Shriners commercial".
Shriners Hospitals confirmed that Kaleb was alive and well. The hospital's chief marketing officer, Mel Bower, issued a statement saying: "We are happy to report that Kaleb is doing very well. The story you may have heard or read involves another child with the same name and spelling and is not associated with Shriners Hospitals for Children."
Yes, on February 27, 2021, Shriners Hospitals posted a video on Twitter of Kaleb dancing and wishing Shriners Hospitals Chairman of the Board Jim Smith a happy birthday.
