– by Lisa Fletcher

The steady beep of monitors, the sterile scent of antiseptic, the hushed urgency of doctors and nurses—this became the new reality for Charlie’s parents. At just 15 months old, their little boy lay in a hospital bed, battling leukemia. The diagnosis had shattered their world.

Stationed in Dubai due to Charlie’s father’s Air Force assignment, the family suddenly found themselves facing an impossible decision. But when they learned that Cincinnati Children’s Hospital offered the best chance for Charlie’s recovery, hope outweighed hesitation. They uprooted their lives, moving halfway across the world with nothing but faith and the fierce love of parents determined to save their child.

The weight of fear and exhaustion was unrelenting. Every treatment, every test, every long night spent in a hospital chair—it all took its toll. But amid the chaos, they found an unexpected source of strength: the hospital chaplain whose very presence became a refuge.

“Where is Fr. Rey?” Charlie would ask from his hospital bed, his small voice filled with trust and familiarity.

For over a year, Fr. Reynaldo Taylor, known to all as Fr. Rey, walked alongside the family through their most difficult days. He prayed with them, listened to their fears, and simply showed up—day after day.

“Sometimes, it’s not about what we say, but about being present and bringing a sense of calm and peace,” Fr. Rey shares. “Charlie, his family, and I spent so much time together. I honestly couldn’t have spent this time with him freely if it weren’t for the support of the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) making it all happen.”

When the day finally came for Charlie’s last stem cell infusion, Fr. Rey was there to bless it. A moment of faith intertwined with medicine, a quiet reassurance that they were not alone.

“I was able to be a sense of calm for the family for the year I spent with them,” Fr. Rey recalls. “It was one of those God moments. I helped them walk with God as a spiritual advisor.”

Hospital chaplains are vital to ministering to those in need. “Spirituality is part of the treatment plan,” he states. The need for this ministry is overwhelming—on Ash Wednesday, the hospital chapel at Cincinnati Children’s was standing-room only, a testament to the hunger for God in times of suffering.

For over 14 years, hospital ministry has been more than just a calling for Fr. Rey—it has been his life’s work. A former religious brother for over three decades before becoming an archdiocesan priest in 2007, he now serves as a clinical pastor at both the Cincinnati VA Medical Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. His long days are spent maintaining chapels, celebrating Mass, administering sacraments—especially the Anointing of the Sick—and offering comfort to those in their darkest hours.

Charlie’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and the power of human connection. But behind it all—quietly, steadfastly—stands the CMA, making this ministry possible, one visit, one prayer, one family at a time.

“Through the CMA, we are able to carry out our mission,” Fr. Rey affirms. Without this vital support, families like Charlie’s would have to walk through their darkest days alone. Instead, they find comfort, companionship, and the unwavering presence of Christ—right there in the hospital room.

The Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) is the annual campaign supporting six local ministry areas that teach, feed, and heal.
Through the CMA, all parishes of the Archdiocese join together as the Body of Christ to collaborate in the Corporal Works of Mercy.

YOUR financial gift to the CMA is what makes these life-changing moments possible. To Donate, Click HERE