West Orange Mourns Teachers Child After Valiant Cancer Battle – West Orange, NJ Patch
WEST ORANGE, NJ — When his time came, the family and friends of New Jersey’s Henry Chang “couldn’t even ask for prayers to give him strength to continue the fight.” Instead, they asked for “prayers for peace and comfort as his time draws near.”
Chang fought a valiant battle with childhood cancer that ended with his peaceful passing on Saturday. But even though the 7-year-old West Orange resident’s time with his family was brief, his memory will resonate in his community long after he’s been laid to rest.
Chang, the child of West Orange Public School District educators Heather and Henry, and the brother of Derrick, 5, will have a funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25 at St. Joseph’s Church, 44 Benvenue Avenue in West Orange. He will be interred at Gate of Heaven cemetery in East Hanover with honor guards from the Delran Fire Department standing tall by his side.
A viewing will be held at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Livingston from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24.
The DFD, which named the 7-year-old as an honorary firefighter last summer after learning about his struggle with High Risk Neuroblastoma cancer, is overseeing an online GoFundMe campaign to help Chang’s family cover funeral costs and other medical expenses. Donations can be made here.
Shortly before Chang’s passing, the DFD posted the following message about his deteriorating condition:
“In August of 2017, the Delran Fire Department learned of Henry’s illness and brought him in as an honorary firefighter. Henry was going into heart failure and had to undergo surgery to drain fluid around the tumor on his heart among other problems. Henry is no longer able to walk and is confined to either a wheelchair or bed. Henry is unable to make the trip to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia anymore, as the travel is too much for his body. Family and fellow firefighters can’t even ask for prayers to give him strength to continue the fight, but prayers for peace and comfort as his time draws near.”
While Chang has inspired an entire firefighting agency to rally in his honor, he’s also left a trail of huge footprints in the West Orange school community. His mother, Heather, is an art teacher at West Orange High School. In addition, Chang’s father, Henry, is an instructional aide in the West Orange Public School District.
West Orange school administrators said Sunday that “the family is grateful for all the prayers and messages of support so many have provided throughout this long and difficult journey.”
After being diagnosed with High Risk Neuroblastoma cancer in 2015, Chang fought bravely through two bone marrow transplants, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and more medical procedures than any 7-year-old should have to endure.
The battle left him too drained to attend school. But thanks to the aid of a robotic stand-in called a “VGo,” Chang was able to get some much-craved interaction with his peers from his bed at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
With an appearance like a mashup between a Segway transporter and a portable video camera, the robotic device was the first of its type to make an appearance in a West Orange School. Two years ago, Chang gave the robot a test drive last month at Mt. Pleasant Elementary, appearing on the screen to the delight of his fellow kindergarten students who began waving and calling his name. (Story continues below photo)
“It is with deep sadness that we must inform you of Henry Chang’s passing,” West Orange Superintendent Jeffrey Rutzky said. “Henry was a wonderful young man who attended Mt. Pleasant Elementary School. On behalf of the West Orange Public Schools, we send our sincere condolences to Henry’s mom, dad, brother, family and friends.”
According to school officials, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Valerie Fund, Morristown Medical Center, PO Box 35558, Newark, NJ 07193-5558. Condolences may be sent to Heather Young & Henry Chang, 46 Hart Drive, West Orange, NJ 07052.
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Main photo via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story, citing information provided by the West Orange School District, incorrectly stated that a funeral was planned at Gate of Heaven cemetery in East Hanover at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25. We apologize for any confusion.
