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Sad news from family who made the most of the time they had with their baby boy after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Update 9 May

Family say goodbye to their beloved baby boy at just 23 weeks old.

Sheryl posted the sad news on Instagram, “It is with immense sadness that we share, our #littlewarriorthomas grew his angel wings yesterday night, 8th of May 2017 at 7:30pm.

He was surrounded by family and right next to his mummy and daddy when he passed away. He fought the good fight especially when he was only expected to live for only short amount of weeks after his diagnosis.

His baby sibling who we miscarried before him that had the same due date was also taken away from us the same date 2 years ago and they are now together with our loved ones who are looking down upon us. He’s no longer in pain is our only consolation.

We miss him so much everything hurts. Thank for all your kindness and support the last few months.”

We previously shared in February that Sheryl and Jon Blanksby’s son, Thomas, just 11 weeks old, was born with a skin lesion on his right arm that looked like a birthmark.

But after tests revealed a lump on his abdomen, Thomas was diagnosed with a malignant rhabdoid tumour and his family don’t know how long he has left.

‘There are tears and that immense pain of losing someone you love so much. We film him constantly and stare at him and kiss him,’ the couple told Daily Mail Australia.

‘We as a family are trying to cope the best way we can, but it has been very hard.’

Other than the mark on his arm, Thomas, who was born in November, showed no symptoms and was in no pain. He was a happy newborn baby.

But when he turned six weeks old, a doctor found a lump on Thomas’ abdomen, which an ultrasound would reveal was a large tumour over his kidney.

Doctors removed Thomas’ left kidney and discovered he had a malignant rhabdoid tumour.

The rare and aggressive form of cancer most commonly occurs in infants and toddlers, with only around 25 cases every year diagnosed in the US.

Rhabdoid tumours commonly first appear in the kidneys but can also originate in the soft tissues of the brain, before spreading to other parts of the body.

With a survival rate below 30 per cent no matter where the tumour originates, there is no documentation of a successful treatment.

Thomas’ family said doctors then discovered that his skin lesions were also rhabdoid tumours.

Tumours were also found in both of his lungs. An additional one on his hip bone also fractured his right femur bone.

The cancer had spread. There was nothing else the doctors could do.

Sheryl and Jon have not been given a time frame for how long Thomas will live, and can only work to make him as comfortable as possible.

They are now trying to make the most of the time they have left with Thomas, and hope to give him as normal of a life as possible – no matter how short.

The couple’s friends are raising money through a GoFundMe campaign so they can enjoy the time they have left with Thomas without the stress of hospital bills.

Although they will lose him soon, Sheryl and Jon said Thomas is teaching them that life is what’s truly important.

‘We often get caught up in our own little world of first problems and we sweat the small stuff, or complain about things that don’t matter,’ they said.

‘We forget how to be grateful of the things and life we have.’

‘We must live with a purpose, gratitude, and magnitude of love.’

We wish them all the strength in the world.

Share your comments below.

Image via gofundme

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  • that is sad. at least they were blessed with his light, no matter how brief it shone.

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  • deepest of sympathy to all who loved this little fighter xo

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  • May you find joy in the life and time you have with Thomas. What a beautiful baby boy. I pray for a miracle healing for your little one and for peace to reign in your lives. Enjoy one another, be mindful, for we only ever have the present moment we are in. Blessings to all of you.

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  • This is so sad. In fact it is heartbreaking. My prayers are with the mum and dad and baby Thomas.

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  • The saying “life is unfair” applies here but why to a baby about to live and his parents. hopefully they get some really great times and have plenty of photos of him to remember.

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  • How terribly devastating for this young family. Enjoy every day you can and hope for a miracle. You will never forget your little one.

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  • What a horrible thing to happen to such an innocent child

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  • Aw what a devastating news this must have been to Sheryl and Jon !
    My thoughts and prayers go out to the parents, may they cherish the time they have with Thomas and receive comfort & strength for that what is coming.

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  • I feel heartbroken for this family! Life can be very unfair at times. Will keep them in my prayers.

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  • What an unfair situation for this family. Wishing them peace.

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  • Such a heartbreaking record of this beautiful baby’s short life. Hopefully they can give as comfortable time as possible with no pain. A fractured bone is normally painful when it happens. At some point he has probably cried and his parents been able to work out why, unless the nerves have been damaged and he has no feeling in those areas. To the parents you are very brave and so strong to be able to tell us about this tragedy.
    25 a year in USA is 25 too many.

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  • oh so very sad..wishing and praying and sending love and strength.

    Reply

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