The endearing scene, which was caught on camera, of a 6-year-old boy saying goodbye to his younger sister is breaking people’s hearts everywhere.
The image of Matt Sooter’s 4-year-old daughter Adalynn “Addy,” who suffers from a rare kind of cancer, was taken in Arkansas.
He wrote, “A little boy should not have to say goodbye to his playmate, his best friend, his little sister, or his partner in crime.”
The Sooter family’s world was turned upside down when they discovered in November 2016 that their daughter had Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare tumor that starts in the brainstem.
In a Facebook post, Matt detailed the dramatic demise of his four-year-old daughter.
“Over the past day and a half, Addy’s symptoms have gotten worse.” She was her fun, feisty self when she got up yesterday. Even though we still occasionally see our infant, we have admitted her to inpatient care because she is currently sleeping most of the time and is unable to eat or swallow without difficulty. He said on Facebook, “She probably doesn’t have much time left.”
On Saturday, June 2, 2018, Matt Sooter
Big Brother did not want to leave his sister behind.
In addition, Matt asked for prayers for his older brother Jackson, who steadfastly remained at his sister’s side.
Shortly after Jackson bid his younger sister good night and expressed his love for her, she passed away.
“Beautiful child delighted in helping others.”
A few hours later, the family posted on the Facebook page Hope for Addy Joy – Fighting DIPG to announce their daughter’s passing.
“She passed from this life to the next in the same manner that she had lived: peacefully and stubbornly, with her family by her side.” It stated, “She was not in any pain at all at the end.”
“Even though this is just a temporary farewell, we really miss our baby girl.”
The brain and spine tumors that Addy had were given for scientific research with the intention of “saving future children from a similar fate.”
They wrote on their Facebook page, “We thought this would be a great way to show our sweet girl’s giving heart. She loved helping people and giving gifts.”
Everyone has known someone affected by this horrible illness, but it’s particularly heartbreaking when children are affected.
Rest in peace, Addy, little angel.