The story of Zander Alvarez
I’m Zander. I was diagnosed with AFM at 13 months old. I woke Up from a nap and couldn’t stand or move my legs. Mom took me to the ER and after a full day of tests the team said I had Acute Flaccid Myeltis. It’s a rare neuroimmune disease that caused inflammation in my spinal cord. The signal to the nerves in my legs is extremely weak and left me paralyzed. In the last 3 years I have done intensive PT/OT. I can now crawl, use my wheelchair and practice walking with HKAFOs and a Walker. I am still me. I love to read, play wheelchair basketball with my team – The Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets, and have fun.