Tanner Malone, a very special 17 year-old Alexandria boy, was honored by the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department on Jan. 28 by naming him an honorary member along with giving him a ride around town in one of the city’s fire engines. Alexandria Fire Chief Brian Partridge also presented Tanner with a plaque and t-shirt.

The son of Shannon and Julie Malone, Tanner was born with a very rare genetic disorder and has undergone several surgeries and treatments for his condition. There is only ten other kids worldwide with this condition. At Vanderbilt’s Children Hospital Tanner was the only one with this condition. It’s the fourth chromosome. At six weeks old Tanner had already underwent open heart surgery. He had two cranial surgeries when he was six months old and eight months old. Hospitalized the first five years of his life several times with pneumonia and a bad case of asthma. Six years ago he went in for a six hour brain surgery to remove almost all his right side of his brain. After only one week he went back for an eleven hour brain surgery. After the two brain surgeries he was back at the hospital to have a shunt put in because fluid was building up on his brain. Now his liver is being affected because of the high dosages of medication he is taking.

Although Tanner cannot attend school like other children, he is home schooled by Lori Rogers. She has been his teacher since kindergarten. Now she comes to his house because he has an immune deficiency which enables him from having vaccines and other shots like that. Tanner has been going to school with Mrs. Rogers one day a week for about four hours. He enjoys being able to go out and be with other children. He is mentally with probably a three or four year old.

Tanner is a happy teenager with an outgoing personality and is able to make friends quickly. He never meets a stranger and is a blessing to everyone. On his 16th birthday, he received almost 400 birthday cards.

After he healed from his surgeries, the Make a Wish Foundation granted Tanner’s wish and he and his family went on a trip to Florida for a week.

As Tanner continues to receive treatment for his condition the family asks for prayers. His parents ask that you always pray for Tanner.