By Laura Mazur
Community Post
Bret Reeves has been helped and now he intends to help others.
“It makes me happy because I like to help people.”

Reeves recently held a lemonade stand with proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities for all the work they have done for him and for others. The 9-year-old Minster resident, son of Carrie and Chris, has a story to tell of more than just help and hope, but of wonder.
After having spells of nausea, headaches, dizziness and eye troubles in 2006, his parents took him to the eye doctor. From there, he went Wilson Memorial Hospital, in Sidney, and Children's Hospital, in Dayton.
Doctors thought Reeves had an inoperable brain tumor, but after a biopsy was sent to John Hopkins University and the tests came back negative for tumor tissue, doctors were baffled. He and his family then took a trip to New York to see a specialist.
After more than 20 MRI's and multiple IV, as well as IG treatments, which stream antibodies from blood into his body, there is still no final diagnosis for Reeves. A number of cognitive, reflex and mobility testing, and steroid treatments were done in New York, but to no avail.
“There are not a lot of kids who have this. There are not a lot of kids to look at and study,” said Reeves' father. “He could be fine until he's a teenager and then it could come back.”
Until more symptoms come about to put a final cap on his diagnosis, Reeves is thought to have either acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), which is a neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord caused by damage to the myelin sheath, or Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Because of Reeves having symptoms of both and being so young, however, he cannot be properly diagnosed until a later stage.
Reeves has not had any symptoms now in about a year, but he is still under watch by his parents and doctor, with his last check-up having been June 3. His check-ups have gotten farther apart, from being on a three-month schedule to every six months. He said the treatments have not bothered him too much except for getting needles for IV's. But he is happy to report that entertainment technology has changed during his time with treatments because he used to be given just headphones to hear movies while he received his medication, but now goggles are available so he can watch movies, too.
With all of his hospital visits and stays, Ronald McDonald House Charities and people in the local community have helped out the Reeves family, of which they are very appreciative.
“We've received so much help from the community,” said Carrie Reeves.
And so Bret Reeves on his own decided to give back to Ronald McDonald House with profits from lemonade, fruit punch and pictures he drew. No price was put on the lemonade, but donations were asked for in exchange for a cupful. According his parents, only about 15 customers came by his stand, but he still raised almost $40 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“I'm happy and proud he wants to do that. He is a people person and does like to help others,” said his mother.
During recess at school, Reeves enjoys shooting hoops for quarters, courtesy of Rev. Rick Nieberding. And after a few swoops through the net, Reeves even gives quarters to his friends who didn't make theirs through the hoop.
Even with treatments, travel and hospital stays, Reeves considers himself to just be a regular kid. He still likes to fish, camp, swim, play baseball and basketball, catch lightning bugs and go to Putter's Lane and Chuck E. Cheese. He also enjoys playing around the house with his brothers, Brian, 13 and Bryce, 4.