“Reason this person is a Gold Ribbon Hero: I’d like to nominate my son…
Alex, who at the age of 12 was diagnosed with Stage 4 Diffuse Large B cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the bone on Monday April 4th, 2011.
The disease affected 90% of the bones in his body, Alex underwent 6 rounds of intense chemotherapy, 96 hours at a time at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, MI. It was during his time in the hospital that Alex asked for his Xbox to be brought in so he could escape reality with video games. It had a very positive effect on his attitude…it allowed him to cope, relax and have the comforts of home right there in his hospital room…his home away from home. Very few of his roommates had the same comfort or escape…Alex would share his games and controllers until it was time for him to go home.
Alex came up with the idea of…
“What if we could put video games in all the rooms on the oncology floor…and the infusion room too?”

Because of Alex’s inspiration and the way he fought cancer…and eventually won, this year we started a non-profit organization Alex’s Arcade, to help other children like Alex to cope with cancer.” – James C.