Community Corner

Minooka Teen Inspired by Love for His Sister Works to Help Ronald McDonald House

Alex Caraynoff is raising funds so other families with sick children can be close to them in their time of need.

Ronald McDonald House is called the house that love built, and for Alex Caraynoff, love drives him to raise money for it.

"Five years ago, my sister flew over the handlebars on her bike and she had a brain injury," said the 13 year old.

Kaitlyn Caraynoff hit the ground so hard that she knocked herself out, her mother said.

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"She had no idea where she was," said their mom, Kelly Caraynoff. "We took her home and she couldn't stand up; she was puking her brains out."

Kaitlyn Caraynoff, who is now 15, has had numerous sugeries in hospitals across the country and her parents have stayed in more than one Ronald McDonald House.

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"We're on our 53rd surgery," said her mother, and that was before the trip to the hospital in September.

Kaitlyn must be homeschooled because of the lasting effects of the brain injury.

"She can only be up for a couple hours at a time," her mother said.

hasn't always gone with the family to the Ronald McDonald House. He has not stayed at the Ronald McDonald house in Chicago, but was able to stay in other houses when he went with his family.

"When we went to Phoenix was the first time I stayed there," he said.

Some Ronald McDonald houses have programs specifically designed for siblings.

"The Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee has an art program for the siblings," Kelly Caraynoff said.

Metal to Money

Alex is no stranger to community service. He has won awards in the past for his community service.

In seventh and eighth grade, Alex Caraynoff was the winner of the local Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Both projects that garnered him this award were related to Ronald McDonald House. In seventh grade, he made care packages for the families who were staying the houses. In eighth grade, he added homemade cards and stationary that families could use when they stayed at the house.

This time, he is competing for the national Prudential Spirit of Community Service Award.

"If you win the state award, you get a college scholarship," Kelly Caraynoff said.

In addition to working toward a national award, Alex Caraynoff is also trying to beat a world record by collecting the most pop tabs in one collection. To do so, he must collect more than 6 tons of pop tabs.

"The deadline is Nov. 1, so we are just going to make it," Kelly Caraynoff said.

The pop tab dump will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday at .

Correction: Alex's last name was initially spelled incorrectly. Patch regrets the error.


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