The family of a boy named Bailey Cooper received the most devastating news a parent can ever hear. Their son had cancer. The sweet boy was diagnosed with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2016. All of a sudden, his entire life was all about treatments and doctor visits. Everyone hoped for the best outcome, and for a short period of time, that’s exactly what they got. Cancer went into remission, but that didn’t last long!

Bailey got back to school and everything seemed normal when the family was told that the cancer returned. Sadly, it meant more rounds of chemo and hospital visits. Again, the treatments seemed to work and Bailey started feeling better. Unfortunately, in August, came the heartbreaking blow: the cancer had returned yet again, and this time the prognosis was grim.“[The consultant] broke the news to us,” said Bailey’s father, Lee. “It was late Stage Four, and it was even worse!

It was very aggressive.” Cancer had spread quickly. Doctors found lumps in Bailey’s chest, lungs, liver, and stomach. They gave him days, maybe weeks, to live. When he was told the heartbreaking news, Bailey was devastated, but he was also determined to live to meet his baby sister, who was due a few months later. Everyone prayed he would make it that long.

Amazingly, the little boy proved to be a fighter. In November, he got to hold his newborn sister in his arms. His parents even let him choose her name: Millie.“He hugged her and did everything an older brother would do — change her, wash her, sing to her,” said Bailey’s mother, Rachel. After Millie’s birth, Bailey’s health deteriorated. Holding out hope that they would be able to celebrate Christmas together, Bailey’s parents encouraged him to make a list of the gifts he wanted.

Showing the same selflessness he’d had throughout his battle, Bailey asked for presents he knew his younger brother, Riley, would enjoy. Just before Christmas, the extended family came to the house to say their goodbyes. As Bailey’s grandmother cried and told him she wished she could take his place, the young boy admonished her:

He told her, “That’s very selfish, Nan.” “You need to take care of your grandchildren.” When Bailey’s cancer spread to his brain, he had to go through five days of painful radiotherapy. At that point, he told his family that he had to leave. Bailey said of his baby sister, “I want to stay, but it’s time for me to go, to become her guardian angel.”

Bailey stopped responding on December 22 as the cancer took over his tiny body. His family was there with him as he slowly died. Rachel said, “We just sat there and watched him slip away hour by hour.” “We told him stories and played his favorite songs for him.” On Christmas Eve, we were by his bed by 11:45 a.m. We knew that it wouldn’t take long. We told him, “Bailey, it’s time to go.” Stop.’”

At that moment, Bailey’s eye shed a single tear. He took his last breath and then died in peace. The family’s hearts broke into a million pieces when they lost their child, but they all knew that Bailey was finally at peace. Lee said, “We don’t feel anything, but in a way we’re glad he’s no longer in pain.” They now try to do what their young son, who was wise for his age, asked them to do.

“At the last family meeting, he told us, ‘You can only cry for 20 minutes,'” Rachel said. “You’ve got to look after Riley and Millie.” This boy’s story is sad and tragic, but his courage, strength, and positive attitude in the face of pain and hardship continue to inspire people all over the world. Even though his family is sad about his death, they know that his light and legacy will live on.