Our darling nephew, Alex Olsen, and five of his buddies were featured in a Deseret News article in November. Oakley Hansen (center of photo), who was born with spinal bifida and hydrocephalus is visited on Thursday nights by these Highland High School Football Players. Oakley is passionate about sports and loves to trade facts and stories with the boys. Oakley's mom says that "A lot of things have changed since the boys started to come visit. An excitement, looking forward to something. It has been phenomenal."
Oakley's risks of infection are too high to leave his home for much besides doctor's appointments but he convinced his parents to take him to Highland's Friday night football games. Oakley watches the games from a special van that former Utah Jazz star Karl Malone bought for Oakley several years ago.
What started as an unlikely friendship has blossomed into something really meaningful for the football stars! Or, as Alex is quoted in the article: "I think we get more out of the visits than Oakley does." All the boys agree that while they started the visits to help Oakley, it turns out that Oakley's positive attitude inspires and uplifts them.
Oakley's mother, Melissa Hansen, says that "Oakley's had a lifetime void filled by these boys." She realizes these boys have given Oakley something he was missing - real friends. Before the boy's visits Oakley's circle had consisted of mostly doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.
"They're young," Oakley's father, Van Hansen said of the football players. "But they are very sincere with big hearts. I am totally impressed with each and every one of them. Their parents should be proud."
Heck, I'm just Alex's Aunt and I'm proud! What a great thing these boys have done! And yet, like most service, acts of kindness have a way of coming back and benefitting the giver as well as the receiver! The miraculous principle of "The More you Give, The More you Have!"
"Keep doing good deeds long enough, and you'll probably turn out a good man in spite of yourself." - Louis Auchincloss
