SILER CITY — Wearing a sharp navy blue gingham button up and a dashing smile, Alex Flores celebrated his 5th birthday in style last Saturday with a birthday parade held in his honor.
Family, friends, an ice cream truck and even the Siler City Fire and Chatham County Sheriff’s departments surprised Alex by showing up to celebrate his life exactly one year and one week to the day he and his parents found out he had Stage IV Burkitt leukemia in his blood, bones and bone marrow along with 12 masses and tumors — told at diagnosis that he may never leave the hospital.
“Ever since Alex got sick, I promised he would always know how much he is loved,” said his mom, Rena York, who organized the birthday parade as a way to celebrate her son and his recovery and remain COVID-19 safe. “I thought, ‘What a great way to celebrate him,’ being so happy and healthy today as (compared) to a year ago when we had just begun this journey a week prior to his 4th birthday.”
Alex technically turned 5 on Friday, but he didn’t mind the extra celebration.
More than a dozen cars drove by Community Baptist Church, donning birthday balloons and giant birthday card posters. The church, which offered the parking lot to York when they heard about the idea, even had a special birthday message for Alex on the church’s sign. As people drove up, many handed Alex gifts and money, and all of them told Alex they loved him.
Surrounded by his family — his mom and his dad, Miguel Flores; siblings Arianna Flores, Gabbie and Fernando Meza; and cousins visiting from out of town — the smile never left Alex’s face (with the small exception of when his fire department sticker almost blew away in the wind).
“I honestly was so honored that so many people took time out of their day to come and see him,” York said. “It was last minute put together so the number of people who came together was beautiful and showed that our town really is a community. They have shown their encouragement time and time again, rooting for Alex and spreading the love for him.”
After spending most of the year in the hospital, Alex and his mom have been at home since the pandemic started because of the heightened risk of catching something from other patients at the hospital with his compromised immune system. Since being home, he’s “progressed in a very, very positive way,” his mom said, with better blood cell counts and returning strength. He is still waiting to get his final scans — something that has been delayed due to COVID-19.
Over the last year, York said she’s relied heavily on her faith in God and her friends and family, who she’s updated on Facebook with Alex’s progress. Every message culminates with “#AlexStrong,” a hashtag that made quite a few appearances on birthday posters on Saturday.
In her Facebook posts leading up to the event, scores of people wished Alex a happy birthday and expressed interest in the parade.
“Wish I didn’t have to work so I could’ve made it,” one poster, Jennifer Banks, commented. “The video I saw on (Alex’s dad’s) page is so beautiful that everyone came together to show Alex so much love on his day.”
“Praise Jesus and his blessings,” another commenter, Pamela Stanley, wrote. “Happy Birthday Alex. You have a story to tell. #AlexStrong.”
York said this level of support is consistent from her friends and family, who she says have sent “dozens and dozens” of messages, prayers, care packages and financial help over the last year.
“It was important for those same people,” she said, “to get to see the little boy they’d been praying over, that they had said inspired them — that they finally meet or see him even in a very different type of situation.”
Of course, for 5-year-old Alex, the people were nice and all, but the fire trucks were definitely his favorite part — specifically honking the fire engine’s horn, as well as the police car’s sirens. With all the attention on him, he told his mom later he wanted to ask the firefighters more questions but got a little nervous. Throughout the rest of the day, York said she loved hearing Alex tell his cousins and siblings how awesome it was he had a parade.
“He also told me that he thought that probably everyone came because God sent them to see him,” York said, “and he said it made him feel happy.”
Reporter Hannah McClellan can be reached at hannah@chathamnr.com.