Bailey Cooper, a nine-year-old boy, was given the terrible news that he had Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin cancer in 2016. All of a sudden, he had to go to a lot of medical visits and treatments.
Even though Bailey’s cancer went into remission, it came back, and she had to go through many rounds of chemotherapy and stays in the hospital. His family had high hopes and low hopes every time the cancer went into remission and then came back stronger than ever.
In August, Bailey got the terrible news that her cancer had spread to Stage 4, and her outlook was not good. He was only given a few days or weeks to live because the cancer had spread so quickly.
The way Bailey was determined to live to see his baby sister, who is due in a few months, was very moving. In spite of all the chances, he fought to stay alive. In November, he finally got to hug his new sister Millie. Bailey’s parents let him pick Millie’s name, which was a small but very meaningful act that made him very happy.
Bailey’s health started to get worse as Millie got bigger. His parents wanted to spend the holiday with him, so they told him to write down his Christmas wishes. Bailey didn’t ask for gifts for himself; instead, he asked for gifts for his younger brother Riley.
His family gathered around him in the days before Christmas to say their goodbyes. Bailey’s grandma cried because she missed him and wanted to take his place, but Bailey told her, “Nan, that’s really selfish.” Take care of your grandkids.
Bailey went through radiation treatment to ease the pain that the brain cancer was causing. Bailey told his family, “I want to stay, but it’s my time to go, to become Millie’s guardian angel.” The treatment was hard on him.
On December 22, Bailey’s health got worse, and he lost consciousness. His family gathered around him and read him stories and played his favorite music. At 11:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve, Bailey took his last breath while he was with his family and friends.
Bailey’s family was very sad, but they were comforted by the thought that he was now at peace. According to his father Lee, “We are numb, but we are also somewhat relieved that he is no longer in pain.”
Bailey’s courage and strength continue to spur on his family, who carry on his heritage. He told his mom, Rachel, that he could only cry for 20 minutes at the last family get-together. Take care of Riley and Millie.
The story of Bailey shows how brave, selfless, and hopeful people can be even when things go wrong. His family will always feel sad about his death, but they are determined to remember him and keep his spirit living.
