Alice Sparks is a long-time politically active woman from Kentucky.  Alice has done  much for both women and men candidates and never asks for anything in return.  The political reporter for the Kentucky Enquirer wrote the following story about Alice and her 13-year-old grandson.  Sometimes a story is so compelling that you want to share it.  I am sharing this story with you.  Kathy Groob, Publisher, ElectWomen Magazine

Biden Comforts Ill Boy, Family

by Patrick Crowley, Kentucky Enquirer

Alice Sparks has been around politicians most of her life.

Sparks, a Crescent Springs resident, has worked on campaigns, raised and given money to politicians and political parties, hosted fundraisers at her Crescent Springs home and attended countless campaign events over the years.

Sparks likes politics and politicians, at least most of them; she’s seen them at their best and at their worst; when they are riding high and feeling low; the true public servants and the expedient hacks who are in politics for all the wrong reasons.

But she’s never witnessed anything like she did two weeks ago with Vice President Joe Biden.

Sparks’ 13-year-old grandson, Alex Zdolshek, is battling cancer. He is often fatigued, spends a lot of time with doctors and at hospitals and needs crutches. It would be a tough situation for anyone, particularly so for a teenage boy who misses out on a lot that his friends and other kids his age get to experience.

To boost the spirits of her only grandson, Sparks’ friends had an idea. She knows the vice president from hosting a cocktail party for him in the fall of 2005, when he came to Northern Kentucky to help the Kentucky Democratic Party raise money.

Biden was due to be in Cincinnati July 9 for an event to tout a project slated to be built with federal stimulus money. What would it take to get the vice president to stop by and visit Alex?

Nathan Smith, the former vice chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party and a close friend and business associate of Sparks, jumped in to help the day before Biden’s visit. He called former Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Lundergan, who called Biden’s sister, who called Biden.

Biden said yes; the Secret Service said no. There was not enough time to make or plan an unscheduled stop.

Sparks and others – including U.S. Rep. Steve Driehaus, a Cincinnati Democrat – worked the phones that night and into the day of Biden’s visit, calling their Democratic Party contacts and others, to see if anything could be arranged. Just before Biden was due in Cincinnati, Smith called Sparks from the event; could she bring Alex over to meet the vice president?

Sparks appreciated the offer, but Alex wasn’t up to dealing with the crowds at the event.

Smith then called back; could Sparks get Alex out to the airport to meet Biden before he flew out of town?

“We had 10 minutes to get to the airport,” Sparks said. “We hustled out of the house, got in the car and I took the back way. I took Donaldson Road to avoid the motorcade on the interstate.”

But as Sparks approached the airport, traffic was blocked to allow Biden’s motorcade to pass.

“We were 20 cars deep,” Sparks said. “The vice president’s motorcade was up ahead, getting ready to go by. I was on the phone with (a Biden aide) and he told me to get out and run up to the front.”

Normally, a woman running at a vice presidential motorcade would elicit some quick action from the Secret Service and law enforcement. But the Boone County Sheriff’s deputy manning the blockage was alerted to the situation. Sparks got back in her car and was waved through, eventually arriving to where Air Force II was parked.

Biden was meeting with some other people when Sparks drove up with her daughter, Sally, her granddaughters Dana, 11, and Isabella, 6, and Alex.

The vice president eventually came over to the family. He put his arms around Sparks, gave her a kiss and expressed his concern about Alex.

“I’m standing there crying while introducing the vice president to my daughter,” Sparks said.

Biden walked over to Alex and whispered something in his ear.

“I can do that,” Alex responded with a smile.

He dropped his crutches and two military aides carried him up the steps and into Air Force II. The rest of the family followed. Biden carried the crutches.

Once on the plane, Biden posed for pictures with the family, gave them a tour, handed out Air Force II souvenirs – hats and playing cards – and chatted up Alex.

“He was wonderful,” Sparks said of Biden. “It did so much to lift Alex’s spirits.”

As the family went back to their car, Biden gave Sparks a simple piece of advice.

“Don’t give up hope.”

Biden lost a son and his wife in a traffic accident shortly after he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972.

“He knows what it is like when a family is going through a tough time,” Sparks said.

Two days later the phone at Sparks’ home rang; she didn’t recognize the number. When she answered, it was Biden on the line. He wanted to speak to Alex.

“I’ve been around politicians all my life,” Sparks said, “and I’ve never seen a more compassionate, caring human being.

“It’s something Alex will never forget.”

E-mail Patrick Crowley at pcrowley@nky.com.

Note:  Alex Zdolshek passed away on August 13, 2009 at the age of 13.  His story has touched hundreds of people and he will not be forgotten.  Rest is peace Alex.