TOMS RIVER – When township resident Cindy Rivero noticed her son Bleu’s headaches wouldn’t go away, she trusted the instinct every parent knows well — something wasn’t right.
What began as days of severe pain quickly became a nightmare. At the emergency room, imaging revealed a large cystic mass in Bleu’s brain, causing dangerous pressure, swelling and a buildup of spinal fluid. Doctors also found abnormal white matter changes, raising concerns that will require continued monitoring.
Within hours, Bleu was flown by medical helicopter to a children’s hospital, where neurologists and neurosurgeons took over his care. For Rivero, the medical terms came fast and heavy — brain mass, hydrocephalus, biopsies — words no parent is ever prepared to hear.
Surgeons performed an emergency procedure to relieve the pressure by opening the cyst and allowing fluid to drain. Multiple biopsies were taken, and the family now waits for answers, holding onto hope as Bleu is monitored around the clock.
As Bleu fights to heal, his family faces mounting emotional and financial strain from hospital stays, travel, time away from work and ongoing medical care. Rivero says her son is strong, brave and surrounded by love, and she credits faith, medicine and the support of others for carrying them through the uncertainty.
Now, she is urging parents everywhere to trust their instincts and speak up. “You know your child better than anyone,” she said. “Never stop advocating for them.
Cindy Rivero is a nurse with the Toms River school district and her son Bleu is active with baseball.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here. As of press time, they have raised over $8,000.
