Jordan Ellis
Alec Cabacungan, born with brittle bone disease, has been a patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago since he was 2 months old. He has undergone numerous operations, having broken over 60 bones in his lifetime. Cabacungan has been a TV spokesman for Shriners Hospitals, advocating for the hope that the hospital has given him. He has also been able to live a full life, including playing wheelchair basketball and attending school with his peers. In this introduction, we will explore Cabacungan's journey and the impact he has had on the Shriners Hospitals community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alec Cabacungan |
| Nickname | Alex |
| Age | 17 years old (as of 2019) |
| Occupation | Spokesperson for Shriners Hospitals for Children |
| Disease | Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) or brittle bone disease |
| Number of Bones Broken | Over 60 |
| Education | Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Oak Park River Forest High School, Northwestern University |
| Hobbies/Interests | Sports, Video Games, Cars |
| Achievements | Playing wheelchair sports, appearing on television, and attending college |
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What You'll Learn
- Alec Cabacungan has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) or brittle bone disease
- He has been a patient at Shriners Hospital in Chicago since he was 2 months old
- He has undergone countless operations, having broken over 60 bones in his lifetime
- He is a spokesman for Shriners Hospitals and has appeared in commercials
- Alec attends college and plays wheelchair sports
Alec Cabacungan has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) or brittle bone disease
Alec Cabacungan, born on May 8, 2002, in Chicago, Illinois, has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease. OI is a rare genetic disorder characterised by fragile bones that can break frequently and easily. It is caused by a lack of or abnormal collagen in the bones, which provides strength and structure to the body.
Cabacungan has been receiving care at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago since he was two months old. He has undergone countless operations, having broken over 60 bones in his lifetime. Despite the challenges posed by OI, Cabacungan leads an active life. He plays wheelchair basketball and softball and has appeared in commercials for Shriners Hospitals, where he serves as a spokesperson. He also works as an actor, musician, and has various endorsement deals.
Cabacungan's journey from patient to advocate has been an inspiring one. He has been open about his experiences living with OI, emphasising the importance of resilience and a positive mindset. He has participated in fundraising efforts for the hospital and has raised awareness for Shriners Hospitals and rare diseases. Cabacungan's feisty personality and determination have helped him transform challenges into opportunities for growth and impact.
In addition to his work as a motivational speaker and advocate, Cabacungan is also pursuing a degree in sports broadcasting at Northwestern University. He has faced setbacks, such as having to take a leave of absence from university after a recent surgery, but he remains dedicated to his physical therapy and recovery.
Through advanced treatments and the support of his family and the Shriners Hospitals community, Cabacungan has made incredible progress. He embodies the hope and confidence that Shriners Hospitals for Children aims to instil in its patients and their families.
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He has been a patient at Shriners Hospital in Chicago since he was 2 months old
Alex Cabacungan, born with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) or brittle bone disease, has been a patient at Shriners Hospital in Chicago since he was 2 months old. Shriners Hospitals is a system of 22 children's hospitals supported by the Masonic Shriners International fraternity. The Oak Park Avenue location in Chicago, where Alex is a patient, opened in 1926.
Alex has undergone countless operations, having broken over 60 bones in his lifetime. He has been a patient of Dr. Peter Smith, an orthopedic surgeon and expert in brittle bone disease, for 19 years. Alex has been a spokesperson for Shriners Hospitals for Children, appearing in commercials and fundraising efforts. He has also pursued a career in sports broadcasting, creating a YouTube channel called Smart Alec on Sports and appearing on TNT's NBA halftime show.
Alex has been able to live a full life thanks to the care he received at Shriners. He attended regular school and played wheelchair sports, including basketball and softball. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln Elementary School and Oak Park River Forest High School, where he had a supportive group of students, faculty, and parents. Alex also learned to drive and got his driver's license.
Despite the challenges of living with OI, Alex remains positive and determined. He embodies the hope and confidence that Shriners Hospitals aims to instill in its patients. He is currently a student at Northwestern University, majoring in sports broadcasting.
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He has undergone countless operations, having broken over 60 bones in his lifetime
Alex Cabacungan, the TV spokesman for Shriners Hospitals, has undergone countless operations due to his condition, osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease. This is a genetic bone disorder characterized by fragile bones that can break frequently and easily. Alex has broken over 60 bones in his lifetime, undergoing numerous surgeries and extensive post-surgery physical therapy.
Alex began receiving care at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago when he was just two months old and has been with them for 19 years. Shriners Hospitals is a system of 22 children's hospitals supported by the Masonic Shriners International fraternity. They provide all medical care, testing, treatment, and therapy for patients up to 18 years old, regardless of their ability to pay.
Alex's most recent procedure was in December after his wheelchair flipped while wheeling across a snowy sidewalk, resulting in a broken left shoulder, right knee, and left hip. This setback not only affected him physically but also academically, as he had to take a leave of absence from Northwestern University, where he is majoring in sports broadcasting. Despite the challenges, Alex remains positive and determined to live a full life. He plays wheelchair sports, including basketball and softball, and has attended regular school with his sisters and friends, where he found a supportive community.
Alex's journey with Shriners Hospitals has been life-changing. He has gone from being "just that kid in the wheelchair" to becoming a recognizable spokesperson for the hospital, spreading hope to other children like him. Alex's positive attitude and feisty personality have made him an inspiration to many. He embodies the hope and confidence that Shriners Hospitals aim to instill in their patients and their families. Through advanced treatments and the generosity of donors, Shriners Hospitals have helped Alex and countless other children reach their potential and lead more fulfilling lives.
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He is a spokesman for Shriners Hospitals and has appeared in commercials
Alex Cabacungan is a TV spokesman for Shriners Hospitals and has appeared in commercials. He has been a patient at Shriners Children's Chicago since he was 2 months old and has undergone countless operations, having broken over 60 bones in his lifetime. Alex was born with a severe form of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, a genetic bone disorder characterized by fragile bones that can frequently and easily break.
Alex began receiving care at Shriners Hospitals in 2002 and has made significant progress through advanced treatments. He now plays wheelchair sports, including basketball and softball, and has appeared on television. In addition to the commercials, Alex has also raised awareness for Shriners through other means, such as his YouTube channel called Smart Alec on Sports, where he showcases his knowledge of sports stats and trivia. He has also been featured on TNT's NBA halftime show.
Alex's journey with Shriners Hospitals started when someone from the hospital's administration asked his family to participate in a commercial fundraising effort. Alex's family decided to take part as Shriners had helped him immensely, and they wanted to give back and help the hospital and other children. The commercials often feature his friend and "little brother," Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres, a fellow patient ambassador for Shriners Hospitals.
Through his role as a spokesman, Alex has helped spread the mission of Shriners Hospitals, a fraternal brotherhood that has been doing charity work for over 150 years. With 22 hospitals across North America, Alex travels extensively to share his story and raise awareness and funds for the hospitals. His positive attitude and determination to live a full life despite his condition have inspired many, and he has become a mentor figure to many children facing similar challenges.
Alex's journey and his role as a spokesman for Shriners Hospitals showcase his resilience and determination to overcome the challenges posed by his condition. By sharing his story, he gives hope to other children and families facing similar struggles and raises awareness and support for the important work that Shriners Hospitals does in helping children lead more fulfilling lives.
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Alec attends college and plays wheelchair sports
Alec Cabacungan is a spokesperson for Shriners Hospitals for Children. He has been a patient at Shriners Children's Chicago since he was two months old and has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, a genetic bone disorder characterised by fragile bones that frequently break. He has broken over 60 bones in his lifetime.
Alec has been attending Northwestern University, where he is majoring in sports broadcasting. He has had to take a leave of absence to undergo intense post-surgery physical therapy at the Oak Park Avenue hospital centre.
Alec has been playing wheelchair sports since the sixth grade, when he got involved with the Chicago Park District's adaptive sports programs. He has played wheelchair basketball and wheelchair softball and says that this is when he felt like he was part of a team. Shriners even named its onsite basketball court in his honour.
Alec is also interested in cars and is learning to drive. He has pedal extensions so he can reach the accelerator and the brake. He also has his own car, which gives him a sense of independence.
Alec embodies the hope and confidence that families and children find at Shriners Hospitals. He has been spreading their mission through his work as a spokesperson for the hospital and has been featured in television commercials.
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Frequently asked questions
Alex Cabacungan, the TV spokesman for Shriners Hospitals, is still alive and doing well. He has osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, and has broken over 60 bones in his lifetime.
Alex was 17 years old in 2019, which would make him 21 years old in 2023.
Alex is currently attending Northwestern University, where he is majoring in sports broadcasting. He also plays wheelchair sports and has appeared on television.
Shriners Hospitals is a system of 22 children's hospitals located across North America. The original location was in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the Oak Park Avenue location in Chicago opened in 1926.
Alex's full name is Alec Cabacungan. He has been a patient at Shriners Children's Chicago for over 19 years and has been the TV spokesman for Shriners Hospitals for around 5 years.
