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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Sharing black culture Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call St. Mary's robotics students headed to state Heavy rain, high winds flood roads, topple trees Erickson layoffs land hard in Jackson County Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call Tree crushes car, part of woman's house in Ashland Forensic evidence leads to arrest of Golden Wok robbery suspect Power out to 1,400 Pacific Power customers Matthew T. Mangino: Searching for alternatives to solitary confinement Politics and Elections Kent Bush: Fraud kept alive by the left and right Walden sets town halls on Friday Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Education Sharing black culture SOU board names officers, committees SOU students targeted in Drive Less campaign Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Environment GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Jackson County won't set up wolf kill compensation program Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Jackson County looks at compensation for wolf kills Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures State News Letter says Kitzhaber official fired after Hayes criticism Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' Willamette football player pleads not guilty to manslaughter 'In God We Trust' leads to Klamath County debate Bill calls for relocation of Washington state wolves Nation - World Obituaries Mary Diane Hudran Maridale Moore Lyn Richard Jeanne (Wells) Lee Antonio Ray Diaz Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Comets hang on for victory over Eagles Aldridge leads Trail Blazers past Suns Reid, Beavers hold off Washington State SOSC Honors Randall, Winton go deep as SOU wins two Varsity 541 College Sports Reid, Beavers hold off Washington State SOSC Honors Randall, Winton go deep as SOU wins two Raiders try to keep pace in Washington Five Beavers who could have an immediate impact Pro Sports Aldridge leads Trail Blazers past Suns SOSC Honors In pain, Woods withdraws after 11 holes Curry erupts in comeback win Lopez's return ignites Portland in victory Community Sports Local Events Business Latest Stories Erickson layoffs land hard in Jackson County People in Business Blog: Stay Calm Erickson announces 150 layoffs, mostly in Oregon 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar People In Business People in Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Agriculture 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Matthew T. Mangino: Searching for alternatives to solitary confinement Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Our View: Our growing disagreement with science Editorials Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Our View: Our growing disagreement with science Our View: A gesture, but one worth making Our View: No reason to hurry pot-tax vote Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 5 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 3 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Guest Opinion: Health professionals don't always act that way Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline Lifestyle Latest stories Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Looking Up: Venus, Mars passing each other Fishing Report: Friday, Feb. 6 Get Out: Friday, Feb. 6 Food Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Community blog: Cupcakes can be good for sweetheart's heart Cupcake love affair Fish stew is a winter delight Home and Garden Landscape lighting for beauty, safety and value Dear Monty: First time home buyer seeks differences in housing lifestyles Home Help: 3 upgrades sure to turn kitchen time into quality time Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? Consider its walkability Health Health Watch: Simple swaps for a healthy lifestyle Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Health Watch: Don’t let your fitness resolutions fizzle out Community blog: Toxic Love: How to Identify an Abusive Relationship Community blog: A Higher Walk To Better Health Hiking Biking Faith RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Live Music in Local Clubs Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Steep Ravine, T Sisters play the Unitarian Fellowship Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Theater Camelot presents Playwright Richard Manley's 'A Question of Words' Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Music Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Passing of Time' Live Music in Local Clubs Charles Guy & Linda Powers play Belle Fiore Steep Ravine, T Sisters play the Unitarian Fellowship Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label Dining Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW 'Life throws stuff at you' ... Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' ... Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call ... 'Life throws stuff at you' ... Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' ... Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call ... A Dream Come True Ashland 11-year-old with brain cancer tells his story on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' after a Hawaiian dream vacation For 11-year-old Alex Shepherd, the past few weeks have been a dream come true, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Comment By JOHN DARLING MailTribune.com By JOHN DARLING Posted Feb. 13, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Feb 13, 2014 at 2:40 AM By JOHN DARLING Posted Feb. 13, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Feb 13, 2014 at 2:40 AM » Social News For 11-year-old Alex Shepherd, the past few weeks have been a dream come true, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Ashland Middle School student, who suffers from an aggressive brain cancer, spent several days paragliding and surfing in Hawaii and got to jet down to Burbank, Calif., to see the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." But it gets better. His family hoped Alex might be able to meet the famed comedian from the audience. But Alex and his mom and dad, Aushna and Dan Shepherd, were invited on stage to tell their story. And better. DeGeneres gave a delighted Alex, owner of five cats, a DVD called "Best Moments of Cat Week" from her show. "Alex is a huge cat fanatic," Aushna says in an interview from Maui. "He started really loving the "Ellen" show when she started doing cat week, and that's why he wanted to meet her so much." And even better. DeGeneres also surprised the Shepherds with a red, 2014 Mazda 3 for their drives to Alex's treatment in Portland and $10,000 to help with the bills. "You're an amazing, brave young man," DeGeneres told Alex. She showed a video of Alex snow skiing just months after 33 radiation treatments, chemotherapy and four brain surgeries, which included the removal of a "banana-sized tumor," Aushna Shepherd says. When DeGeneres asked how he got through it all and back at soccer and his other sports, Alex replied, "From all the encouragement that I would get through it from everyone else." "And in here," his mom said, pointing to her son's heart. When the doctors told him to stop playing sports, what did he tell them? DeGeneres wanted to know. "Anything is possible that you put your mind to," Alex said, and the audience erupted in applause. Alex was a normal kid until one day last April when he suffered a grand mal seizure, said his father, a critical care nurse at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. "Till then, he was a totally fine, smart, good-looking athletic boy, whose dream was to become a surgeon," says Aushna. "Then one day, the seizure. Then the diagnosis, the worst thing you could ever hear about your own child." On the show, Dan said, "It was a major turning point in all our lives — beyond belief." Alex's diagnosis, grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma, is "very grim," says Aushna. "The prognosis is two to five years, with average lifespan being two years after diagnosis. We believe he will beat this because he is doing so well. "Some kids can't feed themselves or even walk after one surgery, but he is surfing, bike racing and skiing after four. In fact, two days after his last brain surgery, he walked with his class for fifth-grade graduation at Walker Elementary. They were very deep surgeries, too, down to the brainstem." The surgeries were performed in Portland, requiring the family to live there much of last summer. He now augments that treatment with chemotherapy at RRMC, where Aushna works as a nurse in labor and delivery. Talking from Maui, Alex says, "I loved the paragliding, the freedom of it. I flew for 15 minutes. The surfing is great, much warmer than Oregon ... and Ellen was so much fun." Aushna says the adventures of the past two weeks "were fun, but really, it's bittersweet. How I would give it all up not to have that diagnosis." The family was packing for Hawaii when DeGeneres' producers called and told them to get on a plane next morning, so it's been "crazy good stress for once," says Aushna. They extended their four-day Hawaii trip by a week, thanks to a friend donating a time share there. They were to arrive home Wednesday. Donations for treatment may be made to the Alex Shepherd Medical Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank. His progress may be tracked at www.team-alex.com. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. By JOHN DARLING MailTribune.com By JOHN DARLING Posted Feb. 13, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Feb 13, 2014 at 2:40 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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