When three-year-old Nolan had nasal congestion, his parents thought it was just a minor ailment. But as time passed, his condition worsened, leading to a devastating diagnosis: rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

For 18 months, Nolan fought a brave battle against this formidable disease. He remained strong, courageous, and positive, but tragically, he succumbed to the illness at the young age of four, in his mother’s loving embrace.

But it is not just Nolan’s fight against cancer that his mother, Ruth Scully, shared in her heart-wrenching Facebook post. Her poignant narrative captures the final moments of her son’s life.

Nolan’s doctors informed Ruth that they could no longer treat his disease. They could only focus on making him as comfortable as possible while his condition continued to deteriorate. During Ruth’s last visit to the hospital, she had a conversation with Nolan that she will never forget.

She sat down with him, their heads together, and they spoke:

• Ruth: Poot, it hurts to breathe, doesn’t it?
• Nolan: Weeeelll… yeah.
• Ruth: You’re in a lot of pain, aren’t you, baby?
• Nolan: Yeah.
• Ruth: Poot, this cancer stuff sucks. You don’t have to fight anymore.
• Nolan: (Pure Happiness) I DONT??!! But I will for you, Mommy!!
• Ruth: No Poot!! Is that what you have been doing?? Fighting for Mommy??
• Nolan: Well, DUH!!
• Ruth: Nolan Ray, what is Mommy’s job?
• Nolan: To keep me SAFE! (With a big grin)
• Ruth: Honey… I can’t do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven. (My heart shattering)
• Nolan: Soooo I’ll just go to Heaven and play until you get there! You’ll come, right?
• Ruth: Absolutely!! You can’t get rid of Mommy that easy!!
• Nolan: Thank you, Mommy!!! I’ll go play with Hunter and Brylee and Henry!!

In the following days, Nolan spent most of his time sleeping. His parents decided to bring him home for one last night. However, as they were packing up, Nolan took his mother’s hand and told her that it was okay to stay at the hospital.

“My four-year-old hero was trying to make things easy for me,” Ruth Scully shared on Facebook.

Around 9:00 pm, Ruth and Nolan were watching a video on YouTube (Peppa Pig, to be precise). Ruth asked Nolan if she could take a quick shower, but she had to be touching him at all times. Nolan agreed and suggested that her uncle could sit with him.

As Ruth stood by the bathroom door, she told Nolan to keep looking at her and that she would be out in just two seconds. And in that moment, as she closed the bathroom door, Nolan closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep, signaling the beginning of the end.

When Ruth opened the door, she found the medical team surrounding Nolan’s bed, their eyes filled with tears. They told her that he was in a deep sleep and couldn’t feel anything. Nolan’s breathing was labored, and his right lung had collapsed, causing his oxygen levels to drop.

In a desperate act, Ruth jumped into bed with her son, placing her hand on his face. And then, a miracle transpired. Nolan took a breath, opened his eyes, and with a smile, said, “I love you, Mommy.” He turned his head toward her, and at 11:54 p.m., Sergeant Rollin Nolan Scully passed away as Ruth sang “You are My Sunshine” softly in his ear.

Nolan had one last moment of strength, one last chance to express his love to his mother. This touching story has touched the hearts of millions around the world and continues to do so.

Nolan’s family decided to share his funeral with the Facebook followers who had supported him throughout his battle. The funeral was live-streamed, and it included a moving tribute from local first responders and law enforcement agencies.

Firefighters and police officers stood watch over Nolan’s red casket, honoring him as if he were one of their own fallen heroes. The procession began at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, where 100 first responders saluted him.

Nolan’s casket was then lifted onto a fire truck, and he was given his “End Of Watch” last call. This somber ritual is typically reserved for officers who die while serving their duty, but everyone agreed that Nolan deserved this tribute.

In September 2022, on what would have been Nolan’s 10th birthday, his mother shared an emotional update. She expressed how deeply this birthday affected her, wondering about the moments they had missed and how life would be if he were still with them.

Usually, they would celebrate Nolan’s birthday by doing something he would have enjoyed, but this year, Ruth couldn’t bear to do so. Instead, she took some of her children to the graveyard. They brought red balloons, wrote personal messages on them, and released them to “heaven.”

This heart-wrenching story serves as a reminder to never forget to tell your mother how much you love her. If this story has touched you, please share it and help spread this message of love and resilience.

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