'You don't have to fight anymore' Mum shares heartbreaking account of final moments with son who died of cancer
'The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven'
A mum has shared a heartbreaking account of her last moments with her dying child.
Ruth Scully, whose son Nolan was battling rhabdomyosarcoma cancer, took to the NolanStrong Facebook page, where she and husband Jonathan had been documenting their little boy's battle, to share the emotional story, writing just two short months after he passed away.
'I've wanted for a long time to write a little about Nolan's last days,' she says in the post. 'His last few days shined with how amazing my son is. How beautiful he is. How he was made of nothing but pure love. This may be long, but bear with me, it's agony unlike any other.'
She then goes on to detail the moment in February where Nolan's oncologist explained to the family that his cancer was spreading 'like wildfire', and that the plan was simply to keep him comfortable.
Ruth then recounts a conversation between herself and her son, where she tells him that he doesn't have to keep fighting anymore. She reminds him that it's Mommy's job to keep him safe, but adds that now 'The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven'.
https://www.facebook.com/nolanscully/photos/a.1650631771858020.1073741829.1650625025192028/1866071863647342/?type=3&theater
She reveals how she and Nolan spent their final hours together - 'we played, watched YouTube, shot Nerf Gun after Nerf Gun and smiled as many times as we could. An hour or so before he passed he even filled out a "Will"' - and worked together to plan his funeral, even picking out his pall bearers and what he wanted people to wear. But when Ruth left Nolan briefly to take a shower, 'the bathroom door clicked he shut his eyes and went into a deep sleep, beginning the end of life passing'.
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However, before he finally left, Nolan gave his mother a precious moment that she'll never forget: 'My angel took a breath, opened his eyes, smiled at me and said "I Love You Mommy", turned his head towards me and at 11:54 pm Sgt. Rollin Nolan Scully passed away as I was singing "You are My Sunshine" in his ear.'
She concludes by saying how proud she is of her son, adding: 'I look at everything he accomplished in 4 short years and can only think of what he could've accomplished with a longer life.
https://www.facebook.com/nolanscully/photos/a.1650631771858020.1073741829.1650625025192028/1855655508022311/?type=3&theater
'But sadly because of Childhood Cancer (Rhabdomyosarcoma to be specific), the world and our family will miss out on someone so full of love, who just wanted to protect and serve. We HAVE to do better with funding, research, treatment options. Below is a picture that seemed to grab everyone's attention because my son was terrified to leave my side, even as I showered.'
'Now I'm the one terrified to shower. With nothing but an empty shower rug now where once a beautiful perfect little boy laid waiting for his Mommy.'
Ruth's post has been shared more than 436,000 times since she uploaded it at the beginning of April, and she's received hundreds of comments from people around the world sending messages of sympathy and support.
'I am reading this with tears rolling down my face,' one told her. 'You are such a strong woman, I know where Nolan got his strength and love from, you. I'm so sorry that you had to go thru such heart ache. I have a 3 year old son and I'm going to hug him extra tight tonight.'
'I'm a 30 year old father of two and I cried in my bed reading this,' another agreed. 'I can't even begin to fathom the pain you have been in. I just want you to know though, that your son has left behind a bigger and more meaningful legacy in his short life then most people do through decades of life on this earth. Even though this is heart breaking, it has more substance and meaning to it then anything I've ever read. You not only shared Nolan's story, you shared Nolan's Legacy of Love. Thank You for that.'
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