At the time, Jayden’s situation was dire.

He had been in the hospital since September of 2024 due to complications from sickle cell disease. Jayden’s family didn’t know what was going to happen, but when he was able to come home this fall, it felt like a miracle.

“When he went to the hospital a year ago he developed a pulmonary shunting of the lung that we think was caused by sickle cell, which he was born with,” said Jayden’s stepmother, Rachael.

“He was a good case for a new FDA-approved gene therapy but it had to be pushed back while they figured out some things going on with him. They didn’t know if that would heal his lungs, but it did, and now he’s come back stronger than ever.”

Jayden’s battle was hard fought, but experiences like Vrabel’s visit helped keep him going.

Despite what he was going through, Jayden’s personality and dry humor stole the heart of his nurses and anyone else he interacted with.

“He gives you some zingers,” admitted Vrabel.

“He’s like, ‘Oh, you’re old and washed up’ and all this other stuff. He doesn’t care who you are — he’s a jokester.”

During his stay at Boston Children’s, the sports-loving boy got to meet other local legends like Patriots Hall of Famer Julian Edelman and players on the Boston Red Sox. A great wingman, he even tried to help set one of his nurses up with the baseball player.

“I think when Coach Vrabel first visited him it’s something that really helped hold him over,” said Rachael.

“What warms my heart the most is that (Vrabel) kept tabs on Jayden to see how he was doing, and when he got out of the hospital, he wanted to invite our family to a game. I was like, ‘Are you sure? There’s a lot of us!’ But he did, and this weekend has been an unbelievable experience.”

The reunion was just as unbelievable for Vrabel.

With the news that Jayden was discharged from the hospital and recovering, Vrabel and the Patriots extended an invite to him and his family to watch a walk-through practice and attend New England’s Week 8 win against the Cleveland Browns.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Vrabel.

“Just like, his big smile and his strength – I gave him a hug and I was like, ‘Man, you’re jacked up! You’re ready to go!’ Just physically it was really cool to see him strong and healthy.”