Gone Too Soon: 22-Month-Old Calvin Vang Passes After Brave Battle With Cancer, Family Seeks Support for Funeral

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA — The community is mourning the tragic loss of 22-month-old Calvin Vang, a joyful and resilient toddler whose life was cut heartbreakingly short after a courageous battle with pediatric cancer. Calvin passed away in the early hours of the morning just days ago, leaving behind a grieving family who had fought alongside him every step of the way.

At only 15 months old, Calvin was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma — a rare and aggressive form of liver cancer that occurs in infants and young children. The diagnosis came as a devastating blow to his parents, Nhia Lee Vang and Shoua Yang, who had already endured countless sleepless nights and emergency hospital visits since Calvin’s birth due to ongoing health complications. Despite everything, they remained steadfast in their love and commitment to their little boy.

Calvin’s treatment journey required frequent travel between Fresno and Stanford Children’s Hospital — a three-hour drive each way. Yet, his father, Nhia, remembers these trips not with sorrow, but with warmth and love. Calvin, he said, never cried on the long drives. He smiled, sang, and found joy in moments shared with his dad. The bond they shared during those rides became a source of light in an otherwise dark time.

“Calvin is a son that liked to smile all the time — the happiest boy,” Nhia shared in a deeply emotional message. “We sing together when we travel. Calvin will stay in my heart until I die. If there is a next life, I wish we come back and be father and son again.”

Now, the GoFundMe campaign originally launched to support Calvin’s medical care has taken on a new purpose. With Calvin’s passing, his family is turning to the community once more to help cover the cost of funeral expenses. The outpouring of support they’ve received so far has been a tremendous comfort, but the burden of laying a child to rest — emotionally and financially — remains incredibly heavy.

The pain expressed by Nhia and Shoua is raw and immeasurable. Married for 17 years, the couple has two children — a four-year-old daughter and their beloved son Calvin. In his heartfelt message, Nhia described the anguish of losing the son who bore his name and the dreams he had for Calvin’s future — dreams now painfully unrealized.

“When Calvin was born, he was a sick baby. Me and my wife always take him to the ER, sometimes at 3 or 4 in the morning. I promised my son I’d save his life, but I lied to him. Daddy’s sorry — I cannot save you this time,” Nhia said.

Through tears and heartbreak, the Vang family wants to express their deepest gratitude to everyone who has offered support, prayers, and love from the beginning of their journey until now. They say they will remember this kindness for the rest of their lives.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Calvin’s funeral expenses or to simply show support for the Vang family during this unimaginable time can do so through their GoFundMe page.

Calvin’s spirit — his smile, his songs, his strength — will forever live in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. As his father said, “Stay with me, don’t leave me like this life.”

May Baby Calvin rest in eternal peace, and may his family find comfort in the memories of their bright, brave little boy.