There’s no way to fully describe the emotional gauntlet that a family goes through when they’re preparing for the end of a life and the beginning of another at the same time.
The uncertainty that comes with either of these life events can inspire intense fear, but also powerful hope. Yet, when it’s all happening at once, those feelings can be understandably overwhelming.
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Still, one British child was able to push through all that confusion and dread and give his love one last time.
In 2016, Bailey Cooper from Bristol, U.K., was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He was eight years old at the time.
Although he went into remission for a time, People reported that the cancer returned a year later.
In August of that year, Bailey would learn that his cancer was terminal. He was told he had, at best, weeks to live.
But in between these grim tidings, Bailey found a reason to keep fighting.
As Fox8 reported , Bailey learned that his mother, Rachel, was pregnant shortly after his diagnosis.
According to his father, Lee, Bailey was “over the moon” to learn he would have a baby sibling and even more excited to hear that she would be a girl.
As Rachel’s pregnancy progressed, Bailey wanted to be as much a part of it as possible.
As Lee told People , “He’d always be cuddling her, trying to listen to the baby in her tummy. He’d sing to her. He was just anticipating meeting her. He’d read stories while resting his head on her tummy. He’d sing just so the baby would be familiar with his voice.”
Bailey once asked his family whether he would meet his sister before going to heaven, but his own determination is what gave him the answer.
As Lee said , “He just managed to hang on, basically. How he did it, we don’t know.”
Indeed, Bailey’s wish came true and he was there on November 20, 2017 when little Millie was born.
Having fulfilled his final wish, Bailey spent the final month of his life spending as much time with Millie as possible.
Lee [told](“It was amazing, but it was hard to see as well. He was completely smitten by her,) People that he would hold her every day. He would also bathe, change, feed, and sing to her until it became physically impossible.
Lee said, “It was amazing, but it was hard to see as well. He was completely smitten by her.”
On Christmas Eve of that year, Bailey succumbed to his illness.
Lee said, “[I miss his] presence, his cheeky banter, his jokes, the laugh, his company. It’s such a difficult time, but at the same time, you look back and we were lucky to have nine-and-a-half great years with him.”
Although Bailey is no longer with his family, they are committed to making sure Millie knows who he is.
And according to Lee, she already seems to recognize him. He said, “We tell her about Bailey every day. We show her pictures of him. We’ve got pictures around the house of Bailey. Every time we mention Bailey’s name she points up at a picture.”
h/t: People
