The four words this boy said to mum as he was dying of cancer

A mother has taken to Facebook to describe the 'absolute pure hell' of life without her little boy who died of cancer earlier this year. Photo / Facebook

A mother has taken to social media to share the heartbreaking story of losing her 4-year-old boy to cancer earlier this year.

Ruth Scully, from Maryland, US, used Facebook to share her memories of her last few days with her son Nolan, who died in February after a 15-month battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, or RMS, a rare and very aggressive form of cancer.

To shine a light on the awful reality of living with cancer, Scully shared a photo of little Nolan, sleeping on the bathroom floor while his mum showered, because he was too scared to leave her side even if only for a few minutes.

Nolan was diagnosed with cancer after he began complaining of minor symptoms in September 2015.

At first it was just a stuffy nose but slowly Nolan began having trouble breathing and no treatment seemed to bring him any relief.

In November, doctors found the tumour responsible for the blockage in Nolan's nasal passages.

Posted by NolanStrong on Saturday, 31 December 2016

The cancer grew on his muscles as well as fat and joints. There was no stopping it.

Nolan endured rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as his body grew weaker and weaker.

His mum says, despite the cancer, his boy was "made of nothing but pure love".

Trips to the hospital multiplied but so did the cancer. Nothing seemed to work as the nasty disease kept furiously spreading through Nolan's little body.

The mother remembers the final hospital visit. She says she somehow knew there was something different about it and she believes Nolan did too.

"On February 1st we were sat down with his ENTIRE team. When his oncologist spoke, I saw the pure pain in her eyes," Ruth shared on Facebook.

"She had always been honest with us and fought alongside of us the whole time, but his updated CT scan showed large tumours that grew compressing his bronchial tubes and heart within four weeks of his open chest surgery.
"The Mestatic Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma was spreading like wild fire.
"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."

Sasha the dog came by to visit today! She's a therapy dog that Nolan hasn't seen in a year!

Posted by NolanStrong on Thursday, 27 October 2016

Ruth remembers the moment she told her son he "didn't have to fight anymore".

Little Nolan replied he would fight for her sake.

The rest of the conversation is heartbreaking.

"[Ruth]: Honey... I can't do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven. (My heart shattering)

"Nolan: Sooooo I'll just go to Heaven and play until you get there! You'll come right?"

The little boy slept for days before passing away gently on February 4, as his mum sang You Are My Sunshine into his ear.

Moments before his last breath, Nolan whispered: "I love you mummy".

This picture right here popped up on my personal Facebook timeline. It's on of my all time favorites. I would kiss those...

Posted by NolanStrong on Thursday, 16 March 2017

Her parents describe him as "a warrior who died with dignity and love".

Ruth's testimony of losing her son to cancer has gone viral and she says the memories of her time with her boy, including the painful ones, will never leave her.

"Now I'm the one terrified to shower," she wrote on Facebook. "With nothing but an empty shower rug now where once a beautiful perfect little boy laid waiting for his Mommy."