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A Song For Bo

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

Haile Alvarez, 2, plays with colored shapes with her older brother, Bo, 5, and her mom, Michelle, during playtime Tuesday at their home in Sebring. Michelle uses a light box and a variety of shapes and colors to help stimulate Bo's brain, which was severely damaged in a near drowning incident three years ago.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: June 23, 2008

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SEBRING — Michelle Alvarez is working hard to turn the near drowning death of son into a positive experience.

Alvarez hopes to build a hospital where children and parents could go for alternative treatment, has started a swimming program, is working to create a house for children with special needs and even starred in a ready-for-prime-time music video.

The 33-year-old physical therapist became an activist and has established a foundation after her now 5-year-old son's drowning and resuscitation after about 20 minutes of CPR.

Bo Alvarez remains minimally responsive and requires round-the-clock attention. The severely brain-injured boy no longer walks or talks.

The Alvarez family, husband J.C., a physician, Luke, 3, and Haile, 2, have searched the world for a cure. Following visits to Columbia, China, Russia and France, Bo's progress has been slow but steady.

"I don't want to accept that there's nothing that can be done for him. I want to make him better," said Alvarez. "It's not his fault this happened."

The professionally produced video is a way to promote a life- saving message and maybe win Alvarez a recording contract in a Nashville music studio, from Great American Country TV (GACT.com).

The budding songwriter and singer described her style as "pop with a country twang."

The video features Alvarez recreating her immediate reaction to the tragedy and then singing from the surface of a swimming pool. Several Highlands County residents participated, including Comm. Mike Rowan of the Avon Park Police Department.

"I never acted a day in my life," said Rowan. "And I don't think L.A. will be calling. It was interesting to see how it worked — the time and effort — and to have a little bit of fun."

Alvarez wrote and sang under the name, Michelle Ann.

"No one knows what it's like to love you,

No one knows how it feels to let you go,

No one knows what it's like to live without you,

And you don't even know."

— "To Live Without You."

"I tried to relive it in a tasteful way, so that I could send a message for people to think twice about water safety," said Alvarez. "I could sit all day and relive that emotion — feel that day. I love to sing. It's a release of emotion — my therapy."

Alvarez wants to help save lives.

"The video helps me send a positive message," said Alvarez. "If a mother sees the video, and thinks that her son could drown, then a child's life might be saved because of water awareness.

"It would be nice to be recognized so that I could bring more recognition to the foundation."

The final cut of the video shows a floating piece of paper with handwritten script that reads, "I'm sorry."

Alvarez explained her motivation of including that personal message.

"I feel sorry that I wasn't there to save him. I didn't feel that it was my fault, but he suffers and I'm his mother. This happened for a reason. I have to find the good in this."

To vote for the video and help Alvarez to win a recording contract, go to, www.boalvarezfoundation.org For more information, or to support the foundation, write the Alvarez Foundation, at P.O. Box 7367, Sebring, FL 33872

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