The next day was full of paperwork and getting things in order. Nolan slept most of the day while Ruth arranged hospice care, all of his medications and even his DNR.
“I cannot explain to you what signing an Emergency Responder “Do Not Resuscitate” order for your angelic son feels like.”
Nolan Strong
Everything was set for Nolan to go home and for their family to have just ONE more night together. But when he woke, Nolan was once again concerned only about his mama.
“He gently put his hand on mine and said, ‘Mommy, it’s ok. Let’s just stay here ok?’ My 4-year-old Hero was trying to make sure things were easy for me.”
So they stayed, and Ruth says that the next 36 hours were filled with play time, YouTube, shooting nerf guns and as many smiles as possible—in between Nolan’s long stretches of sleep. The five-year-old even wrote up a “will,” and planned his funeral.
“We laid in bed together and he sketched out how he wanted his funeral, picked his pall bearers, what he wanted people to wear, wrote down what he was leaving each of us, and even wrote down what he wanted to be remembered as…which of course was a Policeman”
Nolan Strong
Around 9 p.m. on Nolan’s final day here on earth, Ruth asked him if she could take a shower. He reluctantly said yes, then positioned himself so that he could see her when she came out.
“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.”
Nolan Strong
Ruth details the final moments of her son’s life, saying that after she closed the bathroom door, Nolan shut his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
“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.” His respirations were extremely labored, his right lung had collapsed and his oxygen dropped.
I ran and jumped into bed with him and put my hand on the right side of his face.”
As she did this, God gave Ruth a miracle—one last gift from Nolan.
“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.”
Nolan Strong
Ruth says her son died a hero. He used his last breath to ensure he was protecting those he loved. He took on the “job” of his mom and dad—rather than letting them protect him and keep him safe, Nolan only ever concerned himself with taking care of others.
“All Nolan ever wanted to do was to serve and protect others, he did just that all the way up to his last breath and continues to do so every day. He loved his family fiercely and every one of his ‘friends!’”
Like any mother, Ruth only wishes her son could have had more time, and that she could have seen the amazing hero he would grow up to be.
She says now even the smallest things serve as a constant reminder of the emptiness that consumes so much of her heart and life.
Nolan Strong
“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 says her hope is that funding and research would lead to a cure for childhood cancer.
