Charbel had a blood cancer in 2011 and recovered after a difficult stem cell transplant.
He continued to be positive and successful at school, graduating as valedictorian of high school at the age of 17. He joined CUNY and studied psychology. He graduated with honors (sum cum laude) earning a 4.0 GPA at the age of 20.

One month after graduation, Charbel was diagnosed with cancer yet again in 2019, which escalated into leukemia. He fought the battle bravely, but sadly the cancer was too vicious to survive. He succumbed to the disease during a a snowstorm in New York City one week before Christmas, in 2020. Ironically, Charbel both entered and left life on Earth during snowstorms, and he always had an immense love for snow.

At the hospital, Charbel was asked about the one thing he would do if life gave him another chance. He replied that he would like to help underprivileged children who were also bravely fighting cancer. Charbel also privately told his psychiatrist about this same wish and the doctor told John that she had rarely seen a person his age so altruistic, thinking about others with such empathy, while suffering himself. To note, Charbel always had the will to help others even before he had cancer. His intntiins were to help kids with special needs, but after cancer diagnosis the will moved to focus on helping children and youth with cancer having experienced the suffering associated with this disease.

Charbel’s best friend described him as “the purest form of life”, during his latest sickness, which was remarkable to everyone in the hospital - and online. In fact, the director of the pediatric practice at MSKCC used to walk into Charbel’s room and remark, "You’re still smiling?" Charbel was smiling until his last breath.

Contrary to what some people think, Charbel had a happy life which he told me often and also privately to Dr. Gilman, his psychiatrist at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Most beautiful to me, Charbel never hated a soul in his life. Everyone who knows Charbel always remember him smiling, happy, positive, and loving.

Amazing how the text below which I found on my iPad describes what whould Charbel tell us today...John