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Heartbreaking Picture Of Young Lad Being 'Destroyed By Cancer' Goes Viral

Heartbreaking Picture Of Young Lad Being 'Destroyed By Cancer' Goes Viral

This is hard to look at.

Mel Ramsay

Mel Ramsay

When someone you know is battling cancer, you wish there was anything you could do to take the pain away. Even if it's just for a minute. You'd do absolutely anything to give them some relief. It's not easy for anyone.

When we see images of little children burdened with the pain of this fucking awful disease, it strikes a chord. I know there's a part of us that becomes desensitised to these images. You can't cry every time you see an upsetting image, but sometimes they do keep you up at night.

This image of Drake, a 10-year-old boy, with a look of absolute despair on his face while wearing a nappy is a rare insight into just how terrible cancer is. This is an unedited, real-life picture. It's not him 'being strong' or smiling for the cameras despite the fact he's in indescribable agony - this is real.

His mother writes: "For anyone battling cancer or enduring chemotherapy. For anyone going through this horrible disease. It is about to get real, real hard and real quick. The picture I'm posting is from this morning, and before you scream and cry 'why would she post a picture of him in a pull up, the indecency', well 1. It doesn't show more than swimming jammers would and 2. Because life is not always politically correct and pretty, it is real. Life isn't pretty, and cancer destroys a person."

She's got a fair fucking point.

She explains further: "This was this morning after carrying Drake to the bathroom. Yes, he is in a pull up because 75% of the time he can't control his bathroom habits.

"This is skin and bones, because I have to beg him to eat ONE green bean for supper, or drink a cup of water throughout the day.

"This is having your son sleep with you at night because he is afraid of something happening and being alone, and by something I mean dying.

"This is having middle of the night conversations with a ten year old, asking if he dies will he go to heaven and will he see his dad there and be able to talk and play with him.

"This is him being too weak to get out of bed or walk and needing to be carried or in a wheelchair.

"This is him falling asleep as someone is talking to him, because he is too exhausted.

"This is him, throwing up every medication I give him and him dry heaving because his stomach is empty except for the spoonful of yogurt I just gave him with his pills.

"This is having to take 44 chemo pills last week in a matter of 24 hours.

"This is him telling me, 'mommy, I'm not going to make it.'


Credit: You Caring

"This is him not wanting to be touched, because it hurts too much, and using morphine to get through his day.

"This is him telling me he is scared and thinks he won't see his 11th birthday.

"This is him and me, telling him that I will continue to fight for him when he can't.

"This is him and me, and our world."

"This is him, Drake, Stinky Joe, my whole world. From the moment I found out I was pregnant till future forever, he has been my reason for life. He is my smile, my love, my heartbeat. He is also my tears, my heart ache, my frowns. He is my life."

In an update posted today to the family's fundraising page, they said "Drake is in the hospital. He had to go to ER trauma last night. He is in hypovolemic shock also heart rate of 160s. Today heart rate slowed down. Tomorrow he might be getting feeding tube since he wont eat or drink."

They added: "We do thank you with all our hearts for everything you are doing. You're all in our prayers to be blessed. [sic]"

You can see updates and donate to the family here.

Featured Image Credit: You Caring

Topics: Viral, Cancer