The tender moment when a 6-year-old boy said goodnight to his little sister for the last time was captured on camera and is breaking hearts worldwide.
Matt Sooter from Arkansas captured the photo of his 4-year-old daughter, Adalynn ‘Addy,’ who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
‘A little boy should not have to say goodbye to his partner, playmate, best friend, and little sister,’ Matt wrote.
Over 8,000 people have reacted to this heartbreaking photo. Now, the parents want to raise awareness about this rare disease.
The Sooter family’s world was turned upside down when they learned in November 2016 that their daughter was suffering from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare tumor that begins in the brainstem.
Addy lived with the growing tumor for 18 months until her symptoms worsened.
Matt explained in a Facebook post how his four-year-old daughter’s condition rapidly deteriorated.
‘Addy’s symptoms progressed rapidly over a day and a half. Yesterday she woke up playful. While we still see glimpses of our girl, she can no longer eat or swallow without difficulty, and she sleeps most of the time now, and we have admitted her to the hospital. It is highly likely she doesn’t have much time left,’ he wrote on Facebook.
The big brother didn’t want to leave his sister
In an incredibly moving and heartbreaking message, he invited all friends and relatives who wanted to say a final goodbye to their beloved daughter to contact them.
Matt also asked followers to pray for the big brother, Jackson, who didn’t want to leave his sister.
Shortly after Jackson said goodnight to his little sister and told her he loved her, she passed away.
The kind girl loved helping people
A few hours later, a message on the Facebook page ‘Hope for Addy Joy – Fighting DIPG’ announced the passing of their daughter.
‘She transitioned from this life to the next as she lived: stubbornly, yet peacefully, and surrounded by her family. She was pain-free in the end,’ it said.
‘While it’s only goodbye for now, our little girl is terribly missed.’
The family donated Addy’s tumors, from the brain and spine, to scientific research ‘in the hope of saving future children from a similar fate.’
‘Our kind girl loved helping people and giving gifts, so we thought it would be a great way to let her generous heart shine,’ they wrote in a Facebook post.
We all know someone who has been affected by this terrible disease, but it is particularly heartbreaking when it strikes children.
Rest in peace, little angel Addy.
