Charlie Proctor from Lancashire, England, died after battling a hepatoblastoma for nearly two years. The little boy was 5 when he passed away in his sleep.
According to Stanford’s Children Hospital, hepatoblastoma “is a very rare cancerous tumor that starts in the liver” and “primarily affects children from infancy to about 3 years of age.”
Charlie’s parents were understandably heartbroken.
His mother posted about his death on her Facebook page. She said:
“Last night at 23:14 my best friend, my world, Charlie, took his final breath. Our hearts are aching. The world has lost an incredible little boy. You have been not only our biggest inspiration, but you have been an inspiration to thousands of people all over the world. You showed me what love really means Charlie. Now it’s time to fly, I am so, so proud of you. You fought this so hard. My baby, I’m hurting so much. I will forever miss you baby bum. Sweet dreams.”
Charlie’s mom documented his life and how he was able to stay happy while dealing with his disease.
Charlie handled it well, but toward the end, his mother realized that it was almost time to say goodbye to her baby boy.
A few days before the young boy passed away, his mother posted:
“As the days go by, he deteriorates more and more. He no longer looks like Charlie, He’s so thin, I can see and feel every bone in his tiny body, his sunken face, his rolling eyes. Where has my chunky baby gone? He’s sad, he’s tired, he’s fed up and depressed. ‘I don’t know what to do any more’ are his main words.”
Charlie had begun to feel like he was a burden to his mother.
She explained how he apologized to her after a rough day. She explained:
“Today, he’s been very agitated, wanting to lay down, sit up, lay in bed, then on the beanbag, then on the sofa, then back upstairs and so on…Charlie, at one point, turned to me and said in the most quiet, panting voice, ‘Mummy, I’m so sorry for this.’”
Charlie’s parents are devasted at the loss of their child, but they also know that he is no longer suffering.
They want to help support research that can help find better treatments and a cure for diseases like the one that took Charlie’s life. She said:
“No child should feel the emotions Charlie is feeling. No Child! No parent should watch their child slowly go.”
While Charlie has only been gone for a short time, his mother explained that it’s the little things she misses the most about her son.
She hopes that other parents will realize how truly lucky they are to be able to have their children and that the children who are suffering like Charlie, are able to beat hepatoblastoma.
She posted:
“I miss just having a chat, a cuddle that doesn’t cause pain. I miss squeezing him and kissing him all over. I miss his smile, knowing I won’t see that smile again other than in (a) picture. I will never hear Charlie laugh again. Hold your babies tight and cuddle and kiss them so much. You don’t realize how lucky you are. We all take life for granted.”
Charlie underwent treatment for the hepatoblastoma.
He originally went into remission after receiving treatment at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Unfortunately, the cancer returned. His family set up a fundraising account to raise money for a liver transplant for the young boy. Many celebrities donated and encouraged others to do so too. Pink donated more than $10,000 to the boy. Sadly, it was not enough to save him.
While Charlie’s death is a tragedy, his fighting spirit and willingness to care more about his family than himself during a time when he was suffering shows just how amazing this young boy really was. His parents will never get over his death, but they take comfort in knowing that he is no longer in pain and is now in a better place.
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Last night at 23:14 my best friend, my world, Charlie, took his final breath. He fell asleep peacefully cuddled in my…
Posted by Charlie’s Chapter. on Saturday, November 10, 2018
