POMPANO BEACH FL (8-4-06) – If you drive by Broward Children’s Center and hear a car horn don’t be alarmed, it’s just someone saying hello to Alchemy Fletcher.

A resident at Broward Children's Center since he was a newborn, 10 year-old “Al” is fascinated by trucks and cars and kindly requests any visitors beep as they leave.

Al was born with Arthrogryposis, a rare congenital disease that impacts his joints and requires him to use a ventilator to breathe and a gastric tube for nourishment. Al zooms around the Center on an electric wheelchair he controls with his mouth so that he can keep an eye on all those coming and going. He is always chatting to his many friends at his Sanders Park Elementary school and his many “girlfriends” among Center staff.

This year Al’s positive spirit and determination saw him become the first child to win the Florida Health Care Association’s Resident of the Year award, an honor typically reserved for adults. Al received a trophy, of which he is extremely proud and signed off his acceptance speech with his trademark cry of “Yeeeehaaaawww!”

So the next time you swing by Broward Children’s Center, be sure to honk your hello to Al and you might just hear a Yeeeehaaaawww back!

For more than 35 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, and advocacy services to infants, children, and young adults with special needs.

Contact: Thor Barraclough
954.410.4410 thorb@bcckids.org