Angie Valens was a young cancer patient whose brain tumor was discovered to have returned after her boyfriend Ryan was cured.
Biography[]
History[]
When she was sixteen, Angie developed a brain tumor and underwent chemotherapy for it. The cancer subsequently went into remission, but while at chemo, she met fellow cancer patient Ryan Cooper and the two fell in love with each other and made a pact that together they could beat their cancers. Angie was treated in part by Dr. Claire Browne who helped to put in her chemo port.
Season 3[]
While Ryan is at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital to determine how much the chemo has shrunk his tumor, Angie visits, excited to go to prom with Ryan soon if the surgery permits. Claire recognizes Angie from helping to put in her chemo port and Angie jokes about how she lost a tumor and gained a boyfriend. Testing reveals that the chemo got rid of the tumor completely, but Angie collapses in a seizure as the doctors deliver the good news. Her cancer is discovered to have returned and is at Stage 3.
After Angie's cancer is discovered to have come back, the doctors attempt to figure out how to safely remove the tumor and warn that her recovery could take up to eight months. Angie becomes depressed, particularly as her mother keeps Ryan away out of fear that he will hurt her and then lies to her daughter about why Ryan is gone. As Angie's surgery approaches, Claire organizes a small prom at the hospital for the two teenagers that Angie's mother sees when she comes to drop off her favorite stuffed bear. After seeing how genuinely happy her daughter is, Ms. Valens chooses not to interrupt and simply asks that they not keep Angie up too late. However, Ryan is forced to wear a mask due to the risk of passing on an infection to Angie.
Angie is sent into surgery to remove the tumor with one of the dangers being that she could lose parts of her memory. Claire reassures Angie that if she forgets Ryan, she can simply fall in love with him all over again. However, the tumor proves to be impossible to remove even with the help of Dr. Aaron Glassman who returns to the OR for the first time in over a year to help oversee the surgery. Angie is returned to the ICU where Claire and Melendez tell her mother that radiation and chemo is not likely to work this time. Angie experiences a seizure as they talk and dies despite the doctors best efforts. In the aftermath, Ryan and Angie's mother, previously at odds over their love for her, find comfort in each other.