As a parent, there is absolutely nothing more unimaginable than suffering the death of a child. We have one job when these sweet little humans come wide-eyed into this world, and that is to protect them. For so many parents, though, their little one’s lives are cut short and a piece of their heart is permanently ripped out.
That’s a feeling Ruth Scully knows well, and wouldn’t wish on anyone.
The mother of three from Leonardtown, Maryland, lost her five-year-old son, Noah, in February after an 18-month battle with rhabdomyosarcoma—a cancer that develops in the skeletal muscles.
Nolan Strong
It’s been two months since Nolan passed away on February 4. Ruth took to the Nolan Strong Facebook page to recount the final days she had with her son:
“Two months. Two months since I’ve held you in my arms, heard how much you loved me, kissed those sweetie “pie” lips. Two months since we’ve snuggled. Two months of pure absolute Hell.”
Ruth admits she’s been wanting to write about those days and the precious moments she’s held captive in her heart for a while. But understandably, it’s seemed impossible.
“His last few days shined with how amazing my son is. How beautiful he is. How he was made of nothing but pure love.”
The last time she took Nolan to the hospital was February 1—four days before he passed away.
It’s incredible what kids pick up on, and their discernment in adult-like situations. Ruth says she knew something deeper was wrong with Nolan that day, and “strange enough,” she thinks he knew too.
Nolan Strong
She explains that their visit with the doctor that day ended up being a visit with Nolan’s ENTIRE medical team.
“When his Oncologist spoke, I saw the pure pain in her eyes. She had always been honest with us and fought along side of 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.”
His cancer was “spreading like wildfire,” and doctors had concluded that it had become resistant to all treatment options.
“The plan would be to keep him comfortable as he was deteriorating rapidly.”
