Angel R - Family Connection of South Carolina

Angel R, age 14

Photograph by Willie Tanner (2025)

If you have ever heard someone blasting the Star-Spangled Banner at full volume before 8 a.m., chances are you know Angel Reyes. He is not just passionate about his country; he is passionate about everything. Socks with sharks on them. Singing to his dogs. Teasing his family members with love while jumping on his trampoline. Angel lives big, laughs hard, and loves even harder.

At 14, Angel has already been through more than most kids his age. It took ten years before doctors gave a name to what made him so unique—Kabuki Syndrome—a rare genetic disorder. The diagnosis was just one more piece of information, one more clue in the mystery of how he sees and moves through the world.

When he was younger, Angel required hospital stays, and feeding, physical, and occupational therapies. For a while, his mom worried he had never hit the “right” milestones at the “right” time. Then one day she stopped measuring him by everyone else’s standards and started watching him fly on his own timeline.

Angel makes your day better just by being in it. He takes photos of the people he loves and his dogs. He has a heart that does not hold grudges and a laugh that echoes down hallways. He is the family peacekeeper, the class clown, and the unofficial sock model of his neighborhood.

Birthday parties are among Angel’s favorite activities. Not because of the gifts, but because they are a reason to celebrate someone else. And maybe because it is also a chance to smear frosting on someone’s face without getting in trouble.

Angel makes the world a better place. He makes his family more patient, more present, and more connected. And while they still face hard choices and unknowns, they face them with a kind of quiet courage that is clearly inspired by Angel.

The world is not always built for kids like Angel. But if you ask his family, they will tell you it should be. Because when Angel is around, people laugh more. They hug longer. They listen better. They see what really matters.

Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.