FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 28, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3
Seven-year-old honorary cop
discharged from hospital
BY DEAN MOSES
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
Anthony Rojas has lived much of his
young life at St. Mary’s Hospital for
Children in Bayside, Queens, aft er being
admitted for chronic respiratory failure,
bronchiolitis obliterans, in 2017 due to a
rare genetic mutation that caused abnormal
cell growth scarring his lungs and
making it diffi cult for him to breath.
During his stay, the outcome oft en
appeared rather bleak for Rojas, but there
is one thing his mother said kept him
strong — becoming an honorary NYPD
offi cer.
On Oct. 21, the lad got his wish when
the NYPD gave him honorary cop status.
And like any cop recovering from injury
in the line of duty, Rojas was discharged
from St. Mary’s to the applause of a crowd
of New York’s Finest — a heroic end to a
grueling four-year journey.
In 2018, the then-4-year-old
Rojas joined the NYPD’s HOPE
Program, an initiative that allows
children living with severe and
even terminal illnesses to spend
their days as New York’s Finest. He
got to inspecting iconic landmarks
such as the Empire
State Building, visit the
Joint Operations Center,
go on patrol with the K-9
unit or ride boats with
the NYPD Harbor Unit.
As time wore on, the
diagnosis seemed to indicate Rojas’ only
path to recovery would require a double
lung transplant. Incredibly, however,
his condition stabilized following numerous
infusion treatments and intensive
therapies.
His condition progressed to the point
that he was fi nally able to go home aft er
four years in the Bayside hospital.
As a symbolic member of the Police
Department, who wore his uniform
and clung to his badge while facing
the worst of his illness, the NYPD
gave Rojas a hero’s salute as he left the
hospital.
Th e legion of NYPD offi cers lined up
outside Saint Mary’s Hospital for Children
in Bayside just before noon, including
members of the K-9 Unit, Bomb
Squad, Community Aff airs and others. As
Rojas emerged, he received thunderous
applause from hundreds of uniformed
offi cers and even a got to enjoy a fl yover
from an NYPD helicopter.
“I want to thank all the staff ,” Rojas’
mother, Lucy Ramirez, said. “Th is is a
new beginning. Th ank you to all of St.
Mary’s staff because of the wonderful job
they’ve done with him. We leave here with
a world of happy. Th ank you.”
Hospital staff stated that Rojas has
made such a remarkable recovery that
once he has settled at home, he could even
start school.
Yet before all that, the 7-year-old was
showered with gift s from the Police
Department. He got to pet department
canines and horses, and even had the
opportunity to control a bomb disposal
robot before being whisked into a squad
car and sped home via a police escort.
For Detective Anthony Passaro, it was
an emotional day aft er years working with
Rojas in the HOPE program.
“It’s the most incredible feeling in the
whole entire world,” Passaro said thinking
back to 2018.
Passaro, who shares a namesake with
Rojas, described the journey as moving
and life-altering.
“He’s had many ups and downs over the
years as he was initially on the transplant
list for two new lungs, but then became
too sick for the transplant he so desperately
needed,” Passaro said. “No one on his
care team nor in his family ever thought
a discharge like this would be possible.
Anthony is heading home thanks to his
hard work and the devotion of his family,
team of nurses, therapists and medical
team at St. Mary’s. Everyone is thrilled for
him because he will benefi t greatly from
being in the community and attending a
school like a regular kid.”
Rojas says goodbye to the
friends he made after his near
four-year stay at the medical
facility.
A member of the K-9 unit bids Rojas farewell as the young boy prepares to head home.
Staff at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children waved
goodbye and wished Rojas the best of luck as he
starts his journey back home.
Photos by Dean Moses
Seven-year-old Anthony Rojas received a hero’s
farewell after he was discharged from St.
Mary’s Hospital for Children on Oct. 21.
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