Alex Gullingsrud’s doctors say he is “the closest thing to a miracle they’ve ever seen.”
The 10-year-old sled hockey player from Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, was diagnosed with chondroblastic osteosarcoma, a highly aggressive form of bone cancer, in August of 2021, at the age of eight.
Over the course of nine months, Gullingsrud underwent intense chemotherapy, scans, transfusions, major surgery to remove the tumor in his pelvic bone, amputation of his right leg, a revision surgery, and lung surgery.
In March of 2022, Alex and the Gullingsrud family received the incredible news that Alex was cancer-free, and in July had the opportunity to “ring the bell,” signaling the end of his treatment, at Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, North Dakota.
In November of 2022, he tried sled hockey for the first time and fell in love with the game. A member of the Fargo-Moorhead HOPE, Inc. Hurricanes Sled Hockey Team, sled hockey has been a life-changing outlet for Gullingsrud, from the strong bonds he’s built with his coaches and teammates, along with the ability to stay active and competitive.
Outside of his return to sports – which also includes wheelchair baseball, swimming, fishing and hunting – Alex is a model volunteer in his community. He has helped out Meals on Wheels in Red Lake Falls, as well as the Red Lake County Food Shelf. He also helped guide a fellow patient at the Fargo Sanford Hospital through their own amputation operation and how to get through a difficult time. He is a ref and volunteer at local sled hockey tournaments and helps at a local youth basketball camp as well. During his treatment when he couldn’t participate in physical education class, he helped kindergarten students practice writing and reading. His volunteer work also included visiting local nursing homes and assisting the residents.
In February of 2023, the NHL’s Minnesota Wild invited Gullingsrud to center ice prior to a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets as the game’s official flag bearer for Diversified Hockey Celebration night at the Xcel Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Through his perseverance, courage, and positive attitude, Gullingsrud’s story has become a source of motivation and hope for anyone experiencing hardships in their life.
