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Toys Bring Joy

Bar mitzvah boy follows in brother's footsteps to aid kids facing cancer.

I

t was just three years ago when Alex
Stone saw his older brother Jake
accomplish a successful toy drive to
benefit patients and their families at the
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center in
Detroit. Jake, who was 12 years old at the
time, chose to do a toy drive as his corn-
munity service project in preparation for
his bar mitzvah.
Jake, who had Evans syndrome, a blood
disorder, as a child, remembered what it
was like to go through chemotherapy and
thought it would be nice to have toys avail-
able to cheer up children. Admiring his big
brother's efforts, Alex said when it came
time for him to do his community service
project for his bar mitzvah he wanted to
do the same.
Alex, now age 121/2, decided to do just
that. In early November, Alex created a
colorful flyer for his toy drive. A seventh
grade student at Norup International
Middle School in Oak Park, Alex distrib-
uted the flyers to classmates, teachers and
school staff, neighbors, family and friends.
Alex's counselor, Mrs. Weiss, was very sup-
portive. Alex's mom and dad, Stephanie
and Jeffrey Stone, also passed out flyers at
work and e-mailed friends.
To the family's surprise, hundreds of new
toys have been collected — toys for all ages,
from Play-Doh to puzzles, from games to
blocks. Alex even received gifts of money
and enjoyed going to the toy department
to purchase additional items, making sure
there was something for everyone.
When asked why he decided to do a
toy drive, Alex responded, "Well, when
Jake was getting chemo it helped him to
get gifts, and it made him feel good even
though he only got treatment for one
month. But since he did this project, I
wanted to do the same thing he did, and
I know for sure that the kids and families
need these toys and will appreciate them,
since they are going through a hard time."
Alex's parents can certainly relate to
families who have sick loved ones.
"As a parent, seeing my son in a hospital
bed was like having my heart ripped out:'
said Jeff Stone. "We would sit in the wait-
ing room, and there was always a big box
of stuffed animals or toys and Jake was
offered one. My first reaction was that he
didn't need that, because he really wasn't
that sick. Those are for the really sick kids.
"The reality is, when a child is sick, or

411111:

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Alex Stone, 12, of Royal Oak, with the help of his parents Stephanie and Jeffrey

Stone, collected hundreds of toys for cancer patients and their families. The toys

were delivered to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center in time for the holidays.
Accepting the donation was Karmanos` director of volunteers and administrative
guest services, Laura Zubeck, R.N., back row, center.

6111,0k.

Alex proudly shows off just a portion of the vast array of toys he collected to
help cheer up kids dealing with cancer.

has a loved one who is sick, they still need
comfort and distraction. After countless
hours of sitting and waiting as Jake had
blood pulled, bone marrow pulls, blood
transfusions, failed treatments and che-

motherapy, sometimes something as small
as a stuffed animal or a game of Monopoly
can be just enough to make a kid feel nor-
mal again.
"And the effect on other family mem-

bers is equally painful. Alex was absolutely
devastated by his brother's ordeal. I think
that is why he wanted to pick up where his
brother left off ... and, of course, as any
competitive brother would do, beat him at
his own game by collecting more toys than
his brother!"
On Dec. 15, Alex, with the help of his
parents, delivered two vehicles loaded
•6 with hundreds of the donated toys to the
Karmanos Cancer Center. The new toys
were unwrapped so that cancer patients
who are too sick to go shopping for their
children's or grandchildren's holiday pres-
ents can pick out complimentary items
from the Karmanos Holiday Gift Cart.
Karmanos volunteers also wrapped items
for patients to take home. The toys were also
available for pediatric cancer patients from
Children's Hospital of Michigan who receive
radiation therapy at Karmanos and for chil-
dren who waited for parents as they received
cancer treatment.
"The acts of kindness demonstrated by
Alex and his brother Jake, and all those
who have supported their toy drives, are
an inspiration for all of us;' said John C,
Ruckdeschel, president and chief execu-
tive officer of the Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute. "Having cancer or seeing
a loved one go through cancer treatment
can be a pretty scary experience. Knowing
that there are generous people who care
makes a tremendous difference — not
only at the holidays but all year long?'
Some of the other items the Karmanos
Cancer Institute can use now and year-
round include: mini hand sanitizers, tis-
sue packs and lip balm for cancer patient
Hope Bags; portable DVD players and
family appropriate DVDs; grocery, phone
and gas cards for patients; a small multi-
game table for the waiting room area;
yards of cotton or cotton blend fabric so
volunteers can make cheerful gowns for
hospice patients; and a new or excellent
condition 12x50-foot pink carpet for the
survivor runway at the Susan G. Komen
Detroit Race for the Cure, for which
Karmanos Cancer Institute is the present-
ing sponsor.

❑

For information or to donate, con-
tact the Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute, (800) KARMANOS
or www.karmanos.org .

,N

December 25 • 2008

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