By: AB Wire
Superhero-themed parade and party was held last Wednesday in Jersey City.
A 9-year-old Indian American boy, Parth Patel, studying in 4th grade at PS 27 in Jersey City, who was battling cancer since 2004 and was given a surprise superhero themed-parade by 100 police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, and a party at his school, plus the key to the city by the mayor, on Wednesday, died three days later, this past Saturday.
Patel, who loved superheroes and wanted to be a police officer, got his wish fulfilled courtesy of Marty Lyons Foundation, who grant wishes like this.
Patel was diagnosed in 2014 with Ewing Sarcoma, a form of cancer that typically occurs in areas around the bones in children and young adults. In recent weeks, Parth hasn’t been able to attend full days of school because of his illness, reported the Jersey Journal.
Jersey City Police Officer Adrien Murrell had heard about Parth’s battle with cancer, and having lost her brother to a terminal illness, wanted to do something special for the 9-year-old.
So on Wednesday, more than 100 police officers, firefighters, and EMTs held a hero-themed surprise parade from Parth’s Nelson Avenue home down North Street to School 27. He was placed in a Batmobile where he was driven by his favorite superhero.
Parth’s classmates cheered him on during the event. The Marty Lyons Foundation held a pizza party in the school’s auditorium after the parade, where Parth was presented a key to Jersey City by Mayor Steve Fulop.
Patel wore a custom-made Jersey City Police Officer uniform.
“Hello everybody,” Parth said through an intercom. “Thank you for coming.”
North Street was lined with students from the school holding signs calling Parth their superhero. His classmates cheered “let’s go Parth” as he passed them.
Parth’s 18-year-old sister Hileri Patel said school means a lot to her brother and he considers it a second home. It was a special day for the Fairleigh Dickinson University student, reported the Journal.
“I’m really happy because he has been upset and not feeling so well the past couple of days and now he looks really great,” Hileri Patel said.
First responders stopped to greet Parth as he sat in a wheelchair outside his school, presenting him with various gifts, including a superhero cape from Jersey City Medical Center EMTs and an honorary battalion chief fire helmet.
As Parth was wheeled over to pet one of Newark Police Department’s horses, Murrell grew emotional. She later told The Jersey Journal she was overcome with happiness when she saw Parth smile.
“I just wanted to see him smile,” the veteran police officer said. “That’s it and it will make the family feel like they have the support.”
“Were you surprised?” Eyewitness News Reporter Michelle Charlesworth asked Parth Patel.
“They didn’t tell me about the surprise!” Patel said.
“I let them know there was a sick kid who needs help, phones rang off hook and they needed no motivation, this is what we do!” said Anthony Turner, a JC Paramedic, reported WABC.
On Saturday, Patel passed away, according to the Jersey City Police.
