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AMERICAN FORK — The street outside the Carnesecca home in American Fork was especially quiet last Tuesday. That's because just about everyone in the neighborhood was crammed inside the family's home. They were all there for 3-year-old Ethan, who is lucky to be home at all.
"We were in the hospital for about a month, " said Michele Carnesecca, Ethan's mom. "We didn't know if he was going to make it."
Two months ago, a severe case of pneumonia parked Ethan in the intensive care unit at Primary Children's Hospital. His parents said clutching Hot Wheels toy cars kept him calm during painful procedures and tests. Doctors and nurses caught on and slowly began bringing the toy cars to his room.
"Word got out and people from around the world have sent him cars," said Michele.
His parents estimate he received close to 3,000 toy cars. They now take up most of the family's basement and hand-written notes line the walls.
On Tuesday, he sat surrounded by friends and family wearing his Hot Wheels shirt and socks. What he didn't know was the ultimate souvenir was waiting just outside.
"I'm the head of design for die-cast cars at Mattel," Philip Riehlman said.
Riehlman made a special pit-stop at the Carnesecca home to see Ethan and give him a gift.
"It's very rare," Riehlman said. "We don't usually do that. His courage inspired us, and it has inspired the Hot Wheels community."
He walked in the house and asked Ethan to come to the table.
"You want to see what under there?," he said as he motioned to something covered with a black cloth.
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"It's a real honor to present you with this," he said as he lifted the cloth. "You're a brave little boy."
The room burst into cheers as Ethan laid eyes on a specially made, one-of-a-kind Hot Wheels toy.
It was a model made just for Ethan by a design team at Mattel headquarters. The BMW E36 M3 model has his picture on the roof, his name on the windshield, and an "Ethan Racing" title on the hood.
"We are surprised," said Chad Carnesecca, Ethan's dad. "We never expected this."
"For Mattel to make him his own car and come our here and present it, it's just so nice," echoed Michele. "There are no words."
Although Ethan still has some way to go in his recovery, he now has the ultimate collectors piece to help him get through it.
