In a story that has left a community reeling, Dr. Shridevi Singh, a dedicated oncologist, lost her 15-year-old daughter, Haley, to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a fast-moving blood cancer.
Heartbreakingly, just weeks after Haley’s death, Dr. Singh herself passed away, leaving friends, colleagues, and neighbors stunned by the unimaginable loss.
Haley’s Sudden Diagnosis
Haley, a vibrant high school sophomore, had been diagnosed with ALL in early October.
The disease, which progresses rapidly, often shows only subtle signs in older children—fatigue, pale skin, easy bruising, or bone pain—that can easily be mistaken for normal growing pains.
By the time doctors confirmed the diagnosis, it was tragically too late.
Dr. Singh, a breast cancer surgeon, had spent her career saving lives.
Yet for the first time, she found herself powerless, sitting beside her daughter’s hospital bed, waiting for news she had no control over.
“There isn’t a world where we exist without each other,” she wrote in a social media post after Haley’s death, describing the bond they shared as “incredibly strong and unbreakable.”
A Brilliant Surgeon and Devoted Mother
Shridevi Singh, 41, moved from Suriname to New York as a child and eventually settled in Long Island.
She pursued her dream of becoming a cancer doctor while raising Haley as a single mother, instilling in her daughter the same discipline and drive that had guided her own life.
After earning degrees in biology and biochemistry from Queen’s College in 2011, Singh attended the American University of the Caribbean for medical school.
She completed her residency at Nassau University Hospital, where she served as chief resident, and later undertook a breast surgical oncology fellowship at Rutgers University.
She joined The Cancer Center at Good Samaritan University Hospital shortly afterward.
Community Remembers Haley
Friends and family remember Haley as a bright, courageous, and kind-hearted teenager.
A tribute on a GoFundMe page for the family read: “She faced every challenge with grace beyond her years and inspired an entire community with her bravery.”
Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a New York oncologist, explained how aggressive ALL can be, noting that patients can go from appearing healthy to critically ill in a matter of days as cancer cells rapidly overtake the body.
Haley’s sudden decline mirrored this harsh reality.
A Mother’s Grief Captured in Words
In the days following Haley’s death, Dr. Singh shared her heartbreak online.
“Mom and daughter, always. My baby girl was an incredible soul… The strength I need after losing her suddenly… will be of the greatest one a human could need, a mom would need,” she wrote.
Weeks later, her grieving heart gave out.
The Growing Concern Over Childhood Leukemia
The Singh family’s tragedy highlights a broader trend.
Cases of ALL have been gradually rising worldwide, particularly among older children and adolescents.
Experts point to multiple potential factors, including environmental exposures such as pesticides or industrial chemicals, genetic susceptibility, and lifestyle changes that may impact immune system development.
Remembering Shridevi and Haley
Those who knew the Singhs remember them for their dedication, strength, and the deep bond between mother and daughter.
Haley was the center of her mother’s world, and Dr. Singh devoted herself to both saving lives in the operating room and nurturing her daughter.
Now, both lives have been lost far too soon, leaving a community mourning and reflecting on the fragile, fleeting nature of life.
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