When a child is sick or in danger of any kind, our natural, instinctual reaction is to keep them safe.
If you're a parent, you'll do anything to keep your children safe, even put yourself in danger. Wishing for a child to pass away, then, seems unnatural or even abhorrent to us.
But not always.
In the U.K., heartbroken mom Nicola McCormack wants nothing more than for her 5-year-old son Joshua to pass peacefully away.
Joshua has a malignant, painful, and terminal brain tumor. It causes him great suffering, both physically and mentally, and his condition is only deteriorating.
Joshua has supporters all over the world and a family that loves him, but with no chance of recovery or relief, his mother just wishes his ordeal would end.
The death of any child is a deep tragedy, and no one knows this more than a parent who has lost one. But for some, even more tragic is the suffering their child endures.
When a young boy, not much older than Joshua McCormack, passed away from a rare disease, his grandmother wrote a moving letter to the family and friends, describing the peace that her grandson could finally find.
To help people understand what her family was going through, McCormack posted a photo of Joshua, his tiny body twisted in pain, to Facebook. She wrote, "Please end this suffering so my boy can be free of pain both physically and mentally."
It's not a situation we'd ever want anyone to face, but for McCormack and her husband, Kev, it's reality.
Their heartfelt, heartbreaking message is sobering, but they also hope it will inspire people to support cancer research, especially childhood cancer, and make ordeals like Joshua's a thing of the past.
[H/T: Daily Mail]
Nicola McCormack's 5-year-old son Joshua was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last year, and underwent a serious surgery with only a 50 percent survival rate. He pulled through, but unfortunately was unable to undergo chemo.
Although the family sought care overseas and started a fundraising campaign, it was too late.
Joshua's tumor was declared fatal, and his condition declined over the next year.
Today, Joshua is in near-constant pain. Heartbroken, McCormack posted this harrowing photo of him with this message:
Please end this suffering so my boy can be free of pain both physically and mentally.
This torture is unbearable to watch. The misery he feels is unthinkable. His now useless body is twisted with pain.
No parent should wish her previously happy, beautiful, perfect boy should leave this world at five years old but staying here is torturous.
No description could ever truly highlight what we are witnessing or the true pain and misery Joshua is going through right now.
The rapid deterioration is unbelievable, yet he still clings to life.
Fly free, baby boy, your mind and body need eternal rest rather than this torture you have been through.
You are such a special boy and Mummy’s broken heart will never leave you or love anyone as I love you. Such a cruel waste of the most loving, pure, and selfless soul.
Joshua has received support not only from his friends and family, but also from his local soccer team, Rochdale AFC, who donated money to the family's fundraiser and made Joshua mascot for a day in August.
McCormack and her husband want to spread awareness about about childhood cancer, and hope that illnesses like Joshua's can be better studied, treated, and one day cured.
As for Joshua, McCormack and the rest of his family hope for an end to his suffering.
He'll be remembered as the kindhearted little boy he was by his friends, family, and supporters across the world.
If you'd like to join the fight against childhood cancer in the U.S., check out the American Childhood Cancer Organization and consider making a donation. You can also support the McCormack family by visiting their GoFundMe page.
If you pray to see a cure for cancer in your lifetime, please SHARE this touching story.
