Alburt inherited a bone disease which causes tumors to develop throughout his body, mainly in his joints. He also inherited an infectious smile and wonderful disposition which he shared with all he met during his medical treatment in St. Louis. Some of the benign tumors, one very large one on his knee and several others in his hip, were causing Alburt increasing pain and beginning to interfere with his daily life. Dr. Perry Schoenecker, his surgeon at Shriners Hospital, removed the large tumor in his knee which has enabled him to bend his leg and walk better. Alburt went home to Belize in April 2009 and will return to St. Louis in December 2009 for hip surgery to try and remove the multitude of tumors that have developed on the ball of his femur. His host family, from Labadie, MO, is excited for his return!