At just 4 years old, Remi Floro is gunning for the title of Twenty One Pilots’ biggest fan. His mother, Payton Herevia, has posted numerous TikTok videos starring Floro singing along to the band’s songs from his room at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Floro has T-cell leukemia and spent much of October in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy and radiation in preparation for a bone marrow transplant. Floro and his mother had tickets to attend the band’s Columbus concert Oct. 17 but had to sell them when his transplant was scheduled for Oct. 15, just two days before the show.
A video of Floro singing “Next Semester” after waking up from a lumbar puncture caught the attention of the band’s manager, Herevia said. Both Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun immediately
reached out. Joseph visited the young superfan on Sept. 21, followed by Dun on Sept. 29.
“Both Tyler and Josh got down on the ground and played with him,” Herevia said. “I was able to sit back and watch my little boy just be himself with two people who have brought him so much joy. Remi calls them his friends.”
During Dun’s visit, Herevia asked if he would wear a necklace displaying her son's name in the "Clancy" emblem during their hometown performance. Sure enough, the drummer wore the necklace, ensuring a little piece of Floro could still be a part of the night. Herevia said her son's face lit up when he saw a photo of Dun wearing the necklace.
“We couldn’t be in that stadium, but Remi was there with Josh, in front of more than 100,000 people,” she said.
Since the transplant, Herevia said Floro has been doing well and in good spirits.
“I hope he grows up knowing that even during his own fight, his story helped bring people together, spread kindness and make a difference for others,” she said. “More than anything, I want people to see Remi for the incredible little boy he is, while also recognizing the reality of what he’s fighting.”
Reporter Kelly Tucker can be reached at ktucker@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Twenty One Pilots brings joy to young fan during treatment
