Manuel is a fighter of a 7-year-old boy!

He has proven over and over how strong willed and resilient he is. From a young age he has been a happy boy, even though he was often in extreme pain.

Manuel's Story

Manuel was born with a rare condition called Cloacal Exstrophy. It is a severe birth defect wherein much of his abdominal organs are exposed, also called OEIS complex.

His first surgery in the reconstructive process took place when he was only a couple hours old, and his last two major surgeries took place in Toronto last summer, bringing it to a total of over 14 surgeries.

Manuel has always shown great strength in fine motor skills and loves to play with his LEGO. He has spent countless hours building with his LEGO in the hospital and will push himself to learn new skills and activities.

After 6 years of being an only child, Manuel was over the moon when he became a big brother last December. He adores his little brother and is very protective of him.

Manuel is a huge Winnipeg Jets fan and even has a small collection of official game pucks.

Manuel's Dream Came True!

One of Manuel’s dreams has been to go to LEGOLAND to see all the wonderful LEGO creations and try out the rides. After spending many Holidays and summers in the hospital with Manuel, his parents were thrilled and grateful to see Manuel’s dream become a reality.