SOAP LAKE — Five-year-old Olekzander Lopez’s face lit up on Sunday as law enforcement from the Soap Lake Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office came by to surprise him on his birthday at home. Soap Lake Officer Trevor Jones Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies David De La Rosa and Jason McDonnell joined others who drove by on Sunday in Soap Lake. Olekzander’s mother, Emma Lopez, said they wanted to do something special for him with the drive-by party since they aren’t able to go anywhere due to the pandemic.

“He was so happy,” Emma Lopez said. “He’s still talking about it, he was excited. At first, when he saw the cars and stuff, he was like oh, wow, is this for real? Then he started getting a little bit nervous. But, he was just excited to see everyone.”

Emma Lopez said with every birthday for Olekzander, they try to do a little bit more, due to his medical issues. Olekzander Lopez was born with caudal regression syndrome, a disorder which impairs development in the lower half of the body.

“He has only one kidney, he’s missing the whole sacrum area, no tailbone and all that,” Emma Lopez said. “His spinal cord stops at T-12; he had heart surgery when he was four days old.”

Not knowing how many birthdays she may have left with her son, Emma Lopez said they try and make it his best every year. Emma Lopez said there have been ups and downs, but said Olekzander is doing well.

Olekzander Lopez is only about the size of a typical 2-year-old, despite turning 5 on Sunday. Emma Lopez said doctors had told her Olekzander wouldn’t move his legs, or even walk.

At 3 1/2 years old, Olekzander started walking, Emma Lopez said.

“He is my little fighter, and I’m so proud of everything he has accomplished that the doctors said he wouldn’t,” Emma Lopez said.

Olekzander Lopez told his mom that his dream is to become a police officer when he grows up. Emma Lopez said she won’t take any dreams away from her son.

“That’s why I decided I wanted him to, for his birthday, have police officers come and support him for what he wants to be when he grows up,” Emma Lopez said. “With his medical issues and disabilities, maybe the chances are he won’t be. But we’re not gonna stop him from what he wishes. Maybe one day he’ll sit at a desk in the sheriff’s office, who knows?”

Deputy McDonnell and Officer Jones arrived first on Sunday afternoon, with Deputy De La Rosa having to come by a little bit later. Emma Lopez said that worked out perfectly for them.

“He had a little bit more time to sit with him and get him in the car,” Emma Lopez said. “It was actually really good because he had more time to focus on him then.”

Soap Lake Police Chief Ryan Cox said Emma Lopez had reached out to them, explaining some of the difficulties her son has faced in his young life. Cox got in touch with the officer on duty that day, Trevor Jones, who immediately cleared his slate to be there.

“He’s one of our biggest guys that loves doing the community service,” Cox said. “I mean we all do, but he takes it above and beyond.”

Cox said Jones helped gather a crew together, including himself, Deputy McDonnell and a few others who were planning on coming by the Lopez residence on Sunday. The Soap Lake Police Department shared photos with Olekzander over the weekend. Cox said they typically don’t share these community events on social media, but believed, given everything going on in the country, it would be good to share with the community.

“Yes, there’s bad stuff happening in this country,” Cox said. “But there’s 99 percent of us that are doing good out here, and this is one of the things that we’re doing.”

Officer Trevor Jones has been in law enforcement for less than a year. With the current climate, Jones said he believes it’s important to stay active with the community. With kids, Jones said it’s a completely different ballgame.

“I’m a huge advocate in keeping a positive outlook between the police and our youth,” Jones said. “Right now, they’re growing up in a climate where they don’t really understand, and don’t really know what’s going on.”

Jones said the moment he got the call from Emma Lopez, he made sure he was free at 1 p.m. to be there. Jones said the feeling he got from seeing the excitement in Olekzander’s face as they pulled up is something he’s never experienced.

“The moment we got out of the patrol cars and started to walk up to him, he lit up,” Jones said. “That’s all he wanted to do. He was wearing a little police shirt; he was ready for it, he was ready to come meet us.”

Jones said his experience with Olekzander Lopez is one he’ll never forget. On duty, Jones said, they typically get involved with people having their worst days, trying to bring some calm into that storm. Coming out of those moments to something that’s nothing but positive is “night and day.”

“It’s a good release knowing that there are young children that still believe in us, even their parents too,” Jones said. “It’s an indescribable feeling, going over to that young man’s house after dealing with something very stressful, a very high tension situation, and having that release, is a breath of fresh air.”

Emma Lopez said her heart melted seeing her son’s face and reaction as the officers arrived on Sunday afternoon.

“You could see it inside,” Emma Lopez said. “He doesn’t show emotions really well, but I could tell how much it meant to him. Just with the police officers being so caring, it just melted my heart to see that.” Emma Lopez said Olekzander is preparing to start kindergarten next year. Emma Lopez said he’s excited and ready to try to be the fastest boy in school.