Page 3 - MidWeek West - April 13, 2022

APRIL 13, 2022 3
‘Ewa Beach Sophomore Xander Cabales Showcases Strength, Inspiration
FROM PAGE 1
Xander back. They saved our son.”
stand what a lot of kids in the hospital may have gone through,” Xander states. “Being able to show how much Kapi‘olani did and what they accomplished to help save me — that’s a re- ally big part for me in being a champion.”
The infection caused dam- age to his eyes, skin, lungs and esophagus, and required care from several specialists, including pediatric ophthal- mologist Dr. David Young.
“Given the rarity of this disease and how severe it can be for children, this was the place to be,” states Young. “We were able to coordinate all the different specialties — infectious disease, oph- thalmology and the nurses who specialize in children’s health — which is what the team at Kapi‘olani does on a regular basis for children in Hawai‘i.”
“Xander is a great cham- pion for Kapi‘olani,” Young adds. “He represents just how difficult some of these medical problems can be and how it takes a spe- cial place and a special per- son to be able to come out of that as well as he did.”
Next was the recovery process, during which Xan- der had to relearn how to hold his head up, sit, walk, talk and eat. Catering to kids,
Kapi‘olani’s team used video games to encourage him to endure the difficult therapy.
expresses his creativity As a champion, he will through detailed drawings of talk about his inspiring dinosaurs, monsters and su- journey with CMN com-
health and well-being of local keiki.
Xander Cabales (standing in the front) is Children’s Miracle Network Champion for Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children.
PHOTO COURTESY KAPI‘OLANI MEDICAL CENTER FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN
Along with the title, Xan- der received a few addi- tional surprises, including a trip to Orlando, Florida, to visit Universal Studios, and a champion pin that he was able to design himself.
Years later, Xander — who practices jiu-jitsu and
“Through this, a lot of people can understand my story, and they can under-
perheroes — wishes to share munity partners and his story. porters committed to
17–19 MAY 2022 | HONOLULU, HI
sup- the
Visit cmnhospitals.org.
REGISTER TODAY
WWW.AUSA.ORG/LANPAC