Alec from the Shriners Hospital commercials—Alec Cabacungan—is alive, active, and continuing his work as a public face for Shriners and as a college student and young sports media personality.

What happened to Alec from Shriners Hospital?

Quick Scoop

  • Alec’s full name is Alec Cabacungan , and he has osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease).
  • He has been a longtime patient at Shriners Hospitals for Children–Chicago since he was a baby.
  • Over the years he’s had many fractures and more than 18 surgeries, but Shriners’ treatment and rehab have helped him live a very active life.
  • He became nationally known as the upbeat kid in Shriners TV commercials and as a spokespatient at events across the U.S.
  • Recent updates describe him as in college, doing media work, and still advocating for Shriners, not as someone who has passed away.

There is no credible public report that Alec has died or “disappeared”; rumors online seem to be just that—rumors.

Alec’s story in short

  • Alec was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition that makes bones very fragile and prone to breaking.
  • He started going to Shriners as an infant and has been treated there since around 2002.
  • His care has included:
    • IV medications to strengthen bone density
    • Physical therapy
    • Multiple orthopedic surgeries and long-term rehab

Despite breaking more than 60 bones in his life, Alec has stayed very positive and focused on living as independently and fully as possible.

What he’s been doing lately

Public info over the last few years paints a picture of a busy young adult, not someone who has “gone missing”:

  • Shriners and related profiles highlight:
    • He attended major sporting events like the Super Bowl.
* He graduated from high school and then went on to college.

* He has been involved in sports broadcasting–related work and appearances tied to college, NFL, and NBA events, using his platform to promote Shriners.

Shriners themselves have posted updates responding to people asking “what is Alec up to these days?”, pointing to articles about him being in college and still very active.

Why people are asking “what happened?”

When someone who was on TV a lot suddenly appears less often, people naturally start to wonder. For Alec:

  • He was heavily featured in Shriners commercials as a teen, so viewers got used to seeing him regularly.
  • As he grew older, Shriners also started featuring other kids and new campaigns, so his presence in ads became a bit less constant.
  • That shift, combined with his serious medical condition, has fueled online speculation—but available public info points to him simply moving into the next stage of life (college, media interests, advocacy work).

Mini FAQ

Is Alec from Shriners Hospital still alive?
All recent public material from Shriners and related coverage treats Alec as alive and active; there are no credible reports of his death.

Does he still go to Shriners?
Yes, he has described Shriners as a lifelong medical “family” and continues to be associated with them, including in newer videos and stories.

Why don’t I see him in every commercial now?
Organizations regularly refresh campaigns and rotate different patients and stories, so his screen time naturally changes over time.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.