Death is a difficult moment to face, especially for a parent who is bidding goodbye to their child. Death takes away our loved ones when we least expect it. Even if someone knows that this will happen at some point, it’s still not easy to accept.
The common saying is that no parent should have to bury their child. This heartbreaking story of a toddler having to say goodbye to his mom before he died is going viral for this very reason.
The family of three-year-old Nolan Scully, diagnosed with the rare form of soft tissue cancer rhabdomyosarcoma, started a Facebook page to share their wonderful moments with him as they hoped but also accept his prognosis.
Ruth Scully, his mother, wrote on Facebook that her son’s last words truly touched millions of people all around the world.
Ruth wrote:
“On February 1, we sat down with his ENTIRE team. When his oncologist spoke, I saw the pure pain in her eyes. She had always been honest with us and fought alongside us the whole time, but his updated CT scan showed large tumors that grew, compressing his bronchial tubes and heart within four weeks of his open chest surgery. The Metastatic Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma was spreading like wildfire.”
“She explained at this time she didn’t feel his cancer was treatable as it had become resistant to all treatment options we had tried and the plan would be to keep him comfortable as he was deteriorating rapidly. After a while, I composed myself and went into Nolan’s room. He was sitting… Watching YouTube on his tablet.”
Ruth asked Nolan if it hurt to breathe, and the sweet boy replied saying “Well… Yeah.”
It hurts to know, but she still asked, “You’re in a lot of pain, aren’t you, baby?”
He paused before answering, unsure if he wanted to worry his mom, but finally said, “Yeah.”
Ruth told Nolan he didn’t have to suffer anymore. He replied, “I DON’T? But I will for you, mommy!”
Ruth understood that her son fought because he was doing it for her. She said, “Nolan Ray, what is mommy’s job?”
He said, “To keep me SAFE!”
She was fully aware of the implications of her words, but she said them anyway, “Honey… I can’t do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in heaven.”
He said, looking surprised, “So, I’ll just go to heaven and play until you get there! You’ll come, right?”
“Absolutely! You can’t get rid of mommy that easy!!” she stated,
“Thank you, mommy! I’ll go play with Hunter and Brylee and Henry!”
No mother wants to have this type of conversation with her son, but she knows she must in order to set his mind at ease.
On the day after this conversation with his mother, Nolan died.
Ruth inquired if he would be able to take a shower. Nolan answered, “Um, okay, mommy. Have Uncle Chris come sit with me and I’ll turn this way so I can see you.”
Nolan then fell into a deep sleep and never woke up again.
Ruth continued by writing:
“I stood at the bathroom door, turned to him, and said, “Keep looking right here, Poot, I’ll be out in two seconds.” He smiled at me. I shut the bathroom door. They said the moment the bathroom door clicked, he shut his eyes and went into a deep sleep, beginning the end of life passing. When I opened the bathroom door, his team was surrounding his bed and every head turned and looked at me with tears in their eyes. They said, “Ruth, he’s in a deep sleep. He can’t feel anything.”
“I ran and jumped into bed with him and put my hand on the right side of his face. Then a miracle that I will never forget happened… My angel took a breath, opened his eyes, smiled at me, and said, “I love you, mommy,” turned his head towards me, and passed away as I was singing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ in his ear.”
