When Gabrielle DiMaggio took her two-year-old son, Rocco, to the doctor, she believed he might have COVID-19. Instead, her family received life-changing news.

Rocco was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that affects the nervous system.

“In that moment, I knew our lives were about to change,” Gabrielle recalled. “One day we were celebrating that he was potty trained, and the next we were fighting cancer.”

Rocco was immediately transferred to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where his family met pediatric oncology nurse Cᴀssie DeMatteis—a woman they say would become an unforgettable part of their journey.

Gabrielle describes Cᴀssie as far more than a nurse.

“She’s our angel on Earth,” she said. “I can’t even say her name without getting emotional.”

Throughout Rocco’s treatment, Cᴀssie was there for every difficult moment. She comforted him when he was scared, played Spider-Man to make him smile, and supported the entire family through months of uncertainty.

With the help of his medical team, Rocco endured five rounds of chemotherapy, two major surgeries, and the removal of one kidney as part of his treatment.

Today, the brave little boy is a healthy, energetic four-year-old who loves riding his electric scooter and enjoying life like any other child.

One of his happiest moments came when he was reunited with Cᴀssie—the nurse who stood beside him during the toughest days of his life.

For Cᴀssie, caring for children is about much more than medicine.

“It’s about smiling, being there for the kids, and building relationships with their families,” she said. “It’s the greatest honor to walk alongside them.”

Watching Rocco grow from a critically ill toddler into a happy, thriving little boy has been one of the greatest rewards for everyone who cared for him.

Their reunion is a beautiful reminder that healing often comes not only from medicine, but also from compᴀssion, kindness, and the extraordinary people who never stop believing in their patients. ❤️