He is 11 years old, and has caught up in size to the other fourth graders in his class at Witt Elementary School. Jared enjoys all sports, skate boarding and bike riding. Jared and Shania are the best of friends and share a special brother-sister bond because of their similar experience. Alex Vanover Alex was born with hemangioma of the right leg. As a result of hemangioma, cavernous tumors were present throughout his leg.
Hemangioma is an abnormal network of vessels which rupture easily.
Even if Alex got a simple scratch, it would bleed and not stop. This was a tremendous concern for Alex and his family. Alex's case was so rare because it was so large, extensive and involved the knee joint. Three years ago, Alex went into surgery. Elvin Zook and Michael Neumeister did a partial resection of the hemangioma, and replaced it with a flap of skin and muscle from the upper right side of his back.