Meet Angel

Angel was a vibrant, healthy little boy, always full of energy and joy. But when he started Pre-K, things began to change. The once energetic 3-year-old became sick with flu-like symptoms, which then escalated to a severe ear infection. Despite visiting allergists and specialists, the answer was always the same: "everything looks good." Yet, Reyna, his mother, knew something was wrong. Doctor after doctor seemed to be managing the symptoms, but not finding the root cause.

“He was always so active,” Reyna recalled, “but he became so tired and sick. It wasn’t like him. He would come to me, hug me and just want to crawl into my arms for comfort.”

It was November 2023 when Angel’s symptoms intensified. He became pale, lethargic and visibly unwell. That’s when Reyna rushed him to the emergency room at K. Hackensack Meridian K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. "The hospital was right in our neighborhood, so we got there so fast," she remembered. "They care so much. You can feel it the moment you walk in."

Reyna didn't feel comfortable taking Angel home that night. His condition had deteriorated, and she feared something was seriously wrong. The medical team at the Children’s Hospital listened to her concerns and ran a series of tests. The results were something no parent is ever prepared to hear: Angel had leukemia.

“I was in shock,” Reyna said. “Completely heartbroken. My sweet boy had cancer. The doctors didn’t waste a moment. They started his treatment right away."

Despite his young age, Angel understood that he was sick, but his bravery was astonishing. “He’s so strong,” Reyna shared. “He would see me cry, and he’d say, ‘Mommy, don’t cry – I will be okay. Don’t worry.’ He was the one comforting me.”

The pediatric oncology team at the Children’s Hospital became a second family. Available 24/7, even in the middle of the night, they provided not just medical care but emotional support for the entire family.

"I felt so blessed to have them on our side, fighting for my little boy,” Reyna said. "They were always there when we had questions, always ready to explain what was happening."

One of Angel’s doctors, Andrew Silverman, M.D., a pediatric hematologist-oncologist, left a particularly lasting impact. “He was such a gift,” Reyna said. “He would play with Angel, making him laugh and smile even on the toughest days. It was those moments of joy that gave us hope.”

As Angel’s treatment progressed, Reyna found solace in the care they were receiving. "At first, it was hard to trust anyone when it came to my son’s life," she admitted. "But I learned to trust the process. I learned to have faith and confidence in the medical team and in the child life specialists.”

Angel, now five-years-old, is now in the maintenance stage of his treatment, which aims to prevent cancer from returning after initial therapies. He is looking forward to starting kindergarten in January. Throughout his treatment, he found a love for monster trucks, often playing with them during hospital visits. He dreams of being a race car driver one day.

"If anyone ever asks where to go for treatment, there's no doubt in my mind: Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital are the best,” Reyna said. "The staff, the doctors — they became family. They do their job with so much love. I owe them everything."

Thanks to the compassionate care at the Children’s Hospital, Angel has a future full of possibilities—and Reyna has her little boy back.