Two months after the loss of her four-year-old son, Emily James shared a poignant message on social media recounting his final days, offering a glimpse into their special bond. Emily dedicated a Facebook page titled “NolanStrong” to document her son’s courageous battle against a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer he was diagnosed with at just three years old in November 2015. Tragically, he passed away on February 4th.
In her emotional post, Emily revealed that it took time for her to gather her thoughts and find the strength to write about her son’s last moments. She described how loved and loving he was, and their final conversations, which were filled with innocence and warmth.
“I have longed to share a bit about Nolan’s last days,” Emily wrote. “Those final moments shined with the brilliance of my son. He was pure love. This may be lengthy, but please stay with me; it’s a heartache like no other.” As she conveyed her memories, the heartbreak was palpable. She shared a touching exchange where Nolan told her he was fighting for her, to which she gently reassured him that it was okay to let go.
“Me: Sweetheart, this cancer is tough. You don’t need to fight anymore.
Nolan: (with pure joy) I DON’T??!! But I will for you, Mommy!!
Me: No, love! Is that what you’ve been doing?? Fighting for Mommy??
Nolan: Well, of course!
Me: Nolan, what is Mommy’s job?
Nolan: To keep me SAFE! (with a big grin)
Me: Honey, I can’t do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven. (my heart breaking)
Nolan: Sooooo, I’ll just go to Heaven and play until you get there! You’ll come right?
Me: Absolutely!! You can’t get rid of Mommy that easily!!
Nolan: Thank you, Mommy!!! I’ll go play with my friends!”
Just days later, after watching Peppa Pig and playing together, Nolan passed away peacefully. In her post, Emily described the bittersweet moment when he opened his eyes one last time to tell her, “I love you, Mommy,” before slipping away as she sang to him.
Emily’s strength to share such a painful experience is commendable. She aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for more research and funding for childhood cancer treatment. According to the City of Hope cancer center, nearly 100,000 children under 15 lose their lives to cancer each year. “Sadly, because of childhood cancer, our family will miss out on someone who was so full of love and just wanted to help others,” she emphasized.
Nolan, with dreams of becoming a policeman, is one of countless children whose aspirations were cut short. Emily’s heartfelt post has reached nearly 600,000 shares in just a few days, inspiring others to join her in advocating for better cancer care. She concluded by reflecting on a photo of Nolan, who would often lay on the bath mat while she showered, noting, “Now I’m the one terrified to shower, with only an empty mat where once my beautiful boy waited for me.”
If you feel moved to assist the family with ongoing medical expenses, you can contribute through Nolan’s GoFundMe page. For more information on fertility and parenting, visit Make a Mom, and for at-home activities, check out Intracervical Insemination. Additionally, the CDC provides a wealth of information on reproductive health and infertility, which can be found at CDC.
In summary, Emily James’s heartfelt post about her son Nolan’s final days shines a light on the harsh realities of childhood cancer and the need for greater awareness and support.