He was born with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, a genetic bone disorder characterized by fragile bones that can frequently and easily break. He began receiving care at Shriners Hospitals for Children® - Chicago in 2002 and has made amazing progress through advanced treatments.

Mia Williams is a 15-year old high school student from Glen Carbon, Illinois who is passionate about singing and acting. Not only has she acted in local and regional productions, but for the past three years she has been featured in many local and national commercials for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

ALEC'S STORY He now plays wheelchair sports, appears on television and is a tremendous voice for Shriners Children's everywhere he goes. With support from Shriners Children's, Alec is an active teenager pursuing his goal to become a sports anchor and broadcaster.

Dr. Peter Smith with Alec Cabacungan, who has been his patient at Shriners Children's Chicago for 19 years. “When I was in sixth or seventh grade, someone from administration asked my family and I to participate in a commercial fundraising effort for the hospital,” Cabacungan says.

Alec, a patient of Shriners Hospitals for Children - Chicago, has become a popular television star and has captured the hearts of many with his adorable smile and charming personality. The Filipino American lives in the suburbs of Chicago, and is quite the active teenager.

Babies with Type II often die soon after birth. Children with Type III may live longer, but often only until around age 10. They may also have severe physical deformities. People with Type IV generally live into adulthood but may have a slightly shortened lifespan.

Shriners have stepped forward in recent years to complain about improprieties at some of the 191 local temples affiliated with the Shrine, including the commingling of charitable and noncharitable assets and the disappearance of money raised for the hospitals.

You may recognize 16-year-old Alec from the various commercials for Shriners Hospitals for Children that have aired nationally.

American Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), is an American Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Founded in 1872, the organization now known as Shriners International was established as a Masonic fraternity that showcased fun and fellowship for its members.

There's no cure for osteogenesis imperfecta. But a care team can help kids with problems related to the condition. If your child has brittle bone disease, the care team can include: a primary care provider (for routine health care)

According to this study, in most cases death occurred in childhood or adolescence due to respiratory, cardiovascular or post-traumatic complications. The average life expectancy of patients with type III OI was 6.2 years (from 1 year to 28 years) [12].