Trevor was treated at the Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center together with RWJBarnabas Health under the care of Dr. Archana Sharma after the cancer was discovered.

“We noticed something was off with Trevor,” Daniel said. “During COVID, Trevor just started acting funny. He wasn’t his usual jovial self. He was 3 years old, so, he couldn’t tell us what was going on inside of him. But he just seemed moody, he just seemed off.”

Trevor began having difficulties at night. He cried often and began having trouble breathing. His parents, Daniel and Gina, realized that his stomach was really hard and had a vein – that they would later learn was feeding the cancer.

“He was extremely young so he couldn’t actually tell us that he was in pain,” Gina said. “We had to recognize the symptoms of something being a little off with him. We noticed he was uncomfortable, and his stomach was bigger than usual. Eventually we noticed it was hard.”

Daniel took Trevor to the pediatrician and they sent him immediately to the ER, where the cancer was discovered.

“We thought maybe it was appendicitis, something like that,” Daniel admitted. “When they told us that Trevor had cancer, it was just a shock to the system. I remember sitting there in the room and it’s kind of like in the movies when the doctor is telling you something and you’re zoned out. You have tunnel vision. It’s something you don’t expect to hear.”

Trevor began getting treatment, but he wasn’t alone. He not only had his friends, family, doctors, nurses and the hospital staff, but he also had Nico – a little plush cat doll.

“When they brought (Trevor) into the ICU, he was having trouble breathing and they wanted to put the oxygen mask on him,” Daniel said. “He didn’t want to wear the oxygen mask. So, they brought in this little cat plushie and put it on him first. That gave Trevor the confidence that he could put it on. He named the cat Nico. Nico went with him with all his treatments. Every time he went to the hospital, he had Nico by his side.”

Trevor’s love of hockey began because of his father’s fandom.

“I’m a long-time Devils fan. The games are always on in our house,” Daniel said. “Trevor was drawn in. We high five after the goals.”