SAN ANTONIO — The family of a local 2-year-old diagnosed with a rare form of cancer says they are staying at the hospital to make sure he gets the treatment he needs to fight for his life.
Reginald Flores said he noticed that something was wrong with his son, Reginald Zayden Ray Flores, when he suddenly stopped eating the day after Halloween.
"He was a happy baby. Like I said, he eats a lot," Flores said. "It's heartbreaking that this happens and it's taken away from him."
His parents rushed Reginald Zayden to the hospital on Nov. 10 and were initially told it was stomach issues. A couple days later, they returned and soon received the heartbreaking news—he had Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT).
"His spinal cord had 30+ tumors," Flores said. "We've just been here ever since."
ATRT is an aggressive and rare form of cancer found in less than 10 percent of children with brain tumors, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
"The medication is coming out of Germany because that's where it's normally based from. So St. Jude reached out to them and they sent out the treatment here for him," Flores said. "(It) is working well for him."
Reginald Zayden celebrated his 2nd birthday in the hospital on Wednesday,having endured four major surgeries to his brain and spinal cord, as well as two rounds of chemotherapy.
His father said they will have to stay in the hospital for at least six more months, and with all their resources going towards helping their son survive this battle, the family has nowhere else to turn.
"No one prepares for this," Flores said. "It can just happen overnight; tomorrow is not promised. You know anything can happen, but only God knows."
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with medical expenses.