Nolan Scully’s story is a profoundly touching account of a young boy’s battle with cancer and the deep love shared between him and his mother, Ruth. Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma, Nolan’s short life was marked by bravery and the warmth he brought to those around him.
### The Diagnosis
At just three years old, Nolan and his mom, Ruth, received the devastating news no parent ever wants to hear: Nolan had cancer. Despite a hard-fought battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, Nolan passed away. Two months later, Ruth shared the heartbreaking story of her son’s final days.
### Ruth’s Emotional Tribute
“Two months. Two months since I’ve held you in my arms, heard how much you loved me, kissed those sweetie ‘pie’ lips. Two months since we’ve snuggled. Two months of pure absolute Hell,” she wrote in an emotional Facebook post. “I’ve wanted for a long time to write a little about Nolan’s last days. His last few days shined with how amazing my son is. How beautiful he is. How he was made of nothing but pure love.”
### The Heartbreaking News
On February 1, 2017, Ruth sat down with Nolan’s medical team. The oncologist, with pain in her eyes, told Ruth that there was nothing more they could do. Nolan’s cancer was spreading too quickly and was resistant to every treatment they tried. The only thing they could do was make him as comfortable as possible in his final days.
### An Unimaginable Conversation
Ruth had to tell her little boy that he was soon going to die. After composing herself, she went to his hospital room.
“I sat down with him and put my head up against his and had the following conversation:
Me: Poot, it hurts to breathe, doesn’t it?
Nolan: Weeeelll…. yeah.
Me: You’re in a lot of pain, aren’t you, baby?
Nolan: (looking down) Yeah.
Me: Poot, this cancer stuff sucks. You don’t have to fight anymore.
Nolan: (Pure Happiness) I DON’T??!! But I will for you, Mommy!!
Me: No, Poot!! Is that what you have been doing?? Fighting for Mommy??
Nolan: Well, DUH!!
Me: Nolan Ray, what is Mommy’s job?
Nolan: To keep me SAFE! (With a big grin)
Me: Honey … I can’t do that anymore here. The only way I can keep you safe is in Heaven. (My heart shattering)
Nolan: So, I’ll just go to Heaven and play until you get there! You’ll come, right?
Me: Absolutely!! You can’t get rid of Mommy that easy!!
Nolan: Thank you, Mommy!!! I’ll go play with Hunter and Brylee and Henry!!”
### Nolan’s Final Days
They prepared to move him home with hospice care, hoping he could spend his final evening in his own home. When he woke up, they had the van packed and his shoes ready. But Nolan, always thinking of his mom, said, “Mommy, it’s ok. Let’s just stay here, ok?”
For the next 36 hours, they played games, chatted, and planned Nolan’s funeral. He chose his pallbearers, what people should wear, and what items he was leaving to whom. As an honorary member of the local police department, he wanted to be remembered as a policeman.
### Nolan’s Final Moments
In his last hour, Ruth asked Nolan if she could take a shower. He agreed, as long as his Uncle Chris sat with him, and she promised to be out in two minutes. As soon as she left the room, he fell into a deep sleep. When Ruth returned, his medical team surrounded his bed. They told her he was in a deep sleep and couldn’t feel anything. He was passing on.
“I ran and jumped into bed with him and put my hand on the right side of his face. Then a miracle that I will never forget happened… My angel took a breath, opened his eyes, smiled at me, and said, ‘I love you, Mommy,’ turned his head towards me and at 11:54 pm, Sgt. Rollin Nolan Scully passed away as I was singing ‘You are My Sunshine’ in his ear.”
### Remembering a Hero
Ruth always refers to Nolan as a hero. Despite his fear and pain, he remained brave and brought smiles to everyone around him. “He woke up out of a coma to say he loved me with a smile on his face! My son died a hero. He brought communities together, different occupations, made a difference in people’s lives all around the world. He was a warrior who died with dignity and love to the last second.”
### Continuing the Fight
Although Nolan has been gone for years, his legacy lives on through his Facebook page, run by Ruth. She continues to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer, hoping to find a cure. “Nolan showed everyone how people should be treated, and how you should take care of one another. He was made of nothing but love and goodness,” she told CNN. “We didn’t fail him, it was medicine that failed him.”
Ruth continues to update Nolan’s Facebook page and encourages others to share Nolan’s story, hoping for a better future for other children with cancer.
