Alester

Alester was born prematurely at 35 weeks, and doctors didn't expect him to survive. Shortly after birth, he developed an infection and spent 10 days in the NICU. As he grew, it became clear that he wasn't developing as expected. Alester wasn't speaking and eventually regressed to moving on his knees.​ He now wears braces on his legs and has undergone numerous MRIs of his brain and spine, as well as EEGs to monitor seizures. In July, Alester received a diagnosis — DLL1, a rare neurological disorder with only 17 known cases worldwide. The oldest known individual with DLL1 is 18 years old, leaving Alester's future uncertain, as doctors are unsure if he will ever walk or talk.​

Alester has a big love for dinosaurs and Mickey Mouse, and he enjoys nothing more than playing games and watching YouTube videos on his tablet. His biggest wish is to have his very own swing set, where he can play and create endless adventures.​