A boy who dreamed big from the beginning
In the fall of 2021, AJ was a kindergartener in Lodi with a bright personality and a big love for sports, especially basketball. His parents, Christina and Armando, watched as their active, energetic son thrived playing basketball, baseball, and soccer with his three older brothers, who were also his biggest heroes and best friends.
When health concerns changed everything
One day, Christina and Armando noticed AJ’s belly was swollen. Shortly after, they also saw his testicle was enlarged. Worried, they took him to their local emergency department. What started as a concern quickly turned serious. That night, AJ was rushed by ambulance to UC Davis Children’s Hospital for specialized care.
At just five years old, AJ was diagnosed with Stage IV Wilms tumor, a rare kidney cancer that had already spread to both lungs. Doctors found a softball-sized tumor on his left kidney and lesions in his lungs. He was admitted immediately and prepared for surgery.
The diagnosis was overwhelming, and the uncertainty was hard for the family. Still, Christina and Armando felt supported and confident in the children’s hospital care team, which helped them stay focused on doing everything possible for AJ’s recovery.
Fighting back with expert care
But once the team was in the operating room, they realized the tumor couldn’t safely be removed because it was adhered to nearby organs. Instead, surgeons performed a biopsy and placed a port for chemotherapy. AJ’s care was overseen by Dr. Marcio Malogolowkin, a nationally recognized pediatric oncologist and division chief of pediatric hematology-oncology at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Over the next six weeks, AJ underwent aggressive chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and prepare for surgery again.
The treatment worked. On December 29, 2021, pediatric surgeon Dr. Erin Brown successfully removed AJ’s left kidney and the tumor. That was followed by seven rounds of radiation and 16 additional rounds of chemotherapy.
AJ’s mom explained that from the very start, his care team made it clear they were thinking far beyond just the next few days or months. “They were not just going to try to save his life for the immediate future…they were trying to give him decades and decades to live a full, happy life...,” she says. “That meant the world to hear.”
Throughout it all, UC Davis Children’s Hospital became a second home for AJ and his family.
“Cheyanne Van Dyke, a nurse at UC Davis Health always made us feel so loved, seen, cared for, and special,” Christina says. “She would bring us coffee and extra care packages for AJ.”
AJ’s parents also fondly recall nurse Christina, who cared for them during their very first night and again during surgery years later. Other important team members included care coordinator Karley, physical therapist Tricia, child life specialists, and facility dogs like Huggie, who helped soothe AJ through challenging treatments.
“The Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist [sic], Chris Walters, took the extra time to make sure AJ was OK and that we as parents were taken care of….putting his arm around us to let us know we were cared for,” AJ’s mom added.
Throughout treatment, the family felt deeply supported by the multidisciplinary team’s warmth and dedication, which helped them navigate each challenge with hope and resilience.
Meet AJ’s oncologist, Dr. Marcio Malogolowkin
“I was so impressed by the way they work together as a team. They confer with each other on everything and it never felt like just one person was looking at AJ’s case…he was getting the best medical minds working together to make sure they didn’t miss anything.”— Christina, AJ’s mom
A family who stood by him
AJ completed treatment on May 17, 2022, marking an important milestone in his journey. A month later, his scans showed no signs of disease. By July, his port was removed, and he was in remission.
He returned to school and sports, started creating art, and filled his “legendary shelf” with collectible cards and mementos. AJ even brought 50 Hot Wheels cars to donate to the hospital prize bin, wanting other kids to feel the joy he felt after chemo.
But in early 2025, AJ’s care team spotted something new in his abdomen. His doctors decided not to attempt a biopsy after they determined the procedure would be too risky. A second surgery followed, and the family braced themselves for bad news.
“Pathology came back benign and it was a juvenile polyp!” mom Christina says. “Best news…no relapse of disease.”
AJ will continue with follow-up scans and testing to monitor for polyps, but for now, he’s focused on third grade and chasing his dream of becoming a professional athlete.
Looking back, Christina says one of the most powerful parts of AJ’s journey was how much he grew.
“He was so afraid of nurses and doctors when we first started, and quickly adapted and thrived in the medical setting,” she says.
That bravery was echoed by the teamwork and expertise of his care team.
“I was so impressed by the way they work together as a team,” Christina says. “They confer with each other on everything and it never felt like just one person was looking at AJ’s case…he was getting the best medical minds working together to make sure they didn’t miss anything.”
For AJ and his family, UC Davis Children’s Hospital wasn’t just a hospital. It was the place that gave him the chance to keep going, to get back to being a kid, and to dream about everything ahead.