When his grandmother tearfully expressed her wish that she could take his place, Bailey responded with wisdom and maturity far beyond his years:
Ultimately, the cancer spread to Bailey’s brain, and after five excruciating days of radiation therapy, he acknowledged the inevitable.
With remarkable clarity, he spoke to his family, saying he knew it was soon time to leave this world, but that he wanted to stay just long enough to become a guardian angel for his loved ones.
“I want to stay, but it’s my time to go, to become her guardian angel,” he said quietly, with the courage and acceptance of someone far beyond his years.
On December 22, 2017, Bailey said his final goodbye. His family remained by his side, holding his hands, reading him stories, and playing his favorite music, cherishing every remaining moment as his young life came to a peaceful close.
“We sat there hour by hour, watching him slip away. We read him stories, and listened to his favourite music,” his mother Rachel recalls. “By 11:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve, we were at his bedside. We knew it was not going to be long.
We told him, ‘It’s time to go, Bailey. Stop.’ The moment we said ‘stop,’ he took his last breath, and just one tear came out of his eye. It was peaceful.”
Although the Coopers remain heartbroken, they find some comfort in knowing that Bailey is no longer in pain and that his bright, loving spirit lives on in their hearts.
They are determined to honor his final wishes, caring for Riley and Millie, and carrying forward the lessons of selflessness, courage, and love that Bailey taught them.Continue reading…
