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Family Focus
What A Wish Hero!
Marlee Phillips inspires cyclists to raise Wish funds
thanks to her will to overcome serious impairments.
Belinda Phillips, a Bloomfield Hills lawyer who formerly worked for the Michigan Court of Appeals, is working on a book about patient advocacy. The mother of two
daughters also is an inspiration to people who truly care about kids with special needs. She has a healthy daughter, Alyssa, 18, who will attend Brandeis University this fall.
Meanwhile, Marlee, 16, was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis at birth, juvenile diabetes at 13 and osteoporosis at 15. She attends Lamphere Center, a centered program in
Madison Heights for students with cognitive/physical impairments.
Meeting Marlee quickly gives you pause when you think simple setbacks are all that important. Marlee reinforced for me one of life's chief lessons: setting an example for
others, even as impairments take their toll, helps make the world a better — and richer — place. Marlee is a real at. Belinda and her daughters are members of Temple Israel
- Robert Sklar, editor
and active at Friendship Circle, both in West Bloomfield.
Belinda Phillips
Special to the Jewish News
T
earn Alex gets it.
Team Alex is a group of
about 70 cyclists who
train all year to ride in the Wish-
A-Mile event for the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Michigan. Riding
300 miles in three days from
Traverse City to Chelsea is a feat in
and of itself; in these difficult times,
Team Alex raised $211,000 this year.
My children and I were fortunate
to experience the love and respect
of the members of Team Alex over
the last year, culminating in the
July 23-25 Wish-A-Mile fundrais-
ing event. My daughter Marlee
was honored to be a Wish Hero
for Team Alex. Along with veteran
Wish child Lily Upp of Berkley,
Marlee placed medals on many of
the riders as they completed the
amazing benefit ride. It was an
emotional experience for all of us.
Many of the riders told Marlee
that when they felt that they could
not continue, they looked down at
her name on their wristband as
inspiration. The riders had tears in
their eyes as Marlee handed out the
medals and planted kisses on their
cheek. Everyone hugged us and
thanked me for taking such good
care of Marlee. Yes, Team Alex gets
it. The outpouring of love from the
members of Team Alex was unex-
pected and indescribable.
The Alex Factor
Team Alex was started by Beth
Brandvain of Farmington Hills as a
tribute to the life of Alex Graham, a
beautiful 17-year-old girl who lost
her struggle with cancer in 1999.
When Alex, daughter of Susie and
Bill Graham of West Bloomfield,
was going through her treatment,
she received a unique wish from
the Make-A-Wish Foundation: She
wanted to raise awareness by way
of a Public Service Announcement
so children involved in cancer
treatment would be treated with
dignity and respect.
Alex and her family had expe-
rienced the uncomfortable stares
and the intolerance often felt by
someone with serious health issues.
Years later, Alex's parents tirelessly
continue to support the efforts of
Team Alex and the Make-A-Wish
Foundation. Within a few moments
of meeting them, I was in awe of
their positive outlook on life, per-
haps inspired by their daughter.
Beyond The Bikes
I contacted Make-A-Wish a few
years ago and we were embraced
with open arms. When Marlee's
wish arrived, she was so excited.
"Bike ... bike," she shouted happily
as she pointed at two shiny new
bikes, an adaptive tricycle that
she could ride on her own and a
buddy bike, a special tandem bike
that she could ride with me.
A few days after Marlee received
her wish, we ran into Beth
Brandvain. I had met Beth and
Team Alex teammates Dorothy
Barak, DeDe Robinson and Susie
Graham through their volunteer
activities at Friendship Circle in
West Bloomfield.
When our conversation turned
to bike riding, Beth told me she
was involved in the Wish-A-Mile
event and Team Alex. She asked
whether Marlee would be a Wish
Hero the following summer for
Team Alex. We were honored.
Marlee was diagnosed with a
genetic disorder (tuberous scle-
rosis) when she was born. It has
caused seizures that have been
impossible to control despite trials
on every medication available in
the world and numerous brain sur-
geries attempting to find the focus
of her seizures. The seizures have
affected Marlee's development and
her motor skills. She works hard at
school and in her therapies to gain
as many skills as she can. Tuberous
sclerosis has also caused tumors
to grow on many of her organs.
Thankfully, the tumors are benign.
One of the tumors on a kidney
grew so quickly that she had to
have one of her kidneys removed a
few years ago.
Six months after that, Marlee was
diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.
Now, she has to deal with the high
and low glucose levels that occur
with diabetes as well as many
needle pokes throughout the day.
Shortly after that, osteoporosis was
diagnosed. Her difficult journey
continues. Yet, through all of this,
ivlarlee's beautiful spirit, contagious
laugh, happy disposition and loving
personality shine through.
The hardest part of this journey
for us has been the isolation that
we often experience. When we
go out in the community, we are
often met with stares until people
become familiar with Marlee and
realize what a sweet child she is.
As you might expect, some people
never see her beauty and are intol-
erant of her differences. The tan-
gible gifts that Make-A-Wish gives
the children are amazing!
What we appreciate even more
is how good it feels to have people
show kindness and compassion
during some of the difficult times.
Yes, Team Alex gets it!
View Alex's PSA at teamalexrides.
Team Alex rider Dori Leib of Farmington Hills with Marlee
Phillips at the Chelsea Fairgrounds at the end of the 2009
Wish-A-Mile benefit ride.
Marlee Phillips enjoys riding her specially made bike.
org . Also order Team Alex's calender
Barely Team Alex 2010 there.
September 3 • 2009
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