Father captures the heartbreaking moment that defines sibling love: 6-year-old brother comforts dying sister
This photo is about a brother saying goodbye to his dying sister.
Addy Sooter, four, battled Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare brain tumor that affects the brain stem.
Because the family of a young girl in Springdale, Arkansas, realized she was dying, they allowed her siblings to spend time with her. So Addy’s 6-year-old brother, Jackson, massaged her head and kissed her goodnight. She passed away a few hours later.
“A little boy shouldn’t have to say goodbye to his best friend, his playmate, his partner in crime,” the children’s father, Matt Sooter, wrote on Facebook. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.”
Sooter claims that Addy’s symptoms “progressed swiftly” over a few days. He went on to say that she couldn’t eat and was having trouble swallowing.
According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, it affects the brain stem, which controls respiration, heart rate, vision, hearing, walking, talking, and feeding.
On June 1, the family admitted Addy to hospice care to relieve the discomfort caused by cancer spreading to her spine.
The day before the photo was taken, Matt disclosed that Addy was in bad shape. “Addy’s symptoms have gotten worse in the last day and a half. Yesterday, I saw my lively, playful little child. She is no longer able to eat or swallow without difficulty, and she spends the most of her time resting. We admitted her to an inpatient facility. She’s probably not going to last much longer.”
The father said, “We miss her terribly, but we’re also at peace knowing we tried our best to help her. His final words to her were, “See you later. We’ll see you again someday.” After being diagnosed on November 12, 2016, Addy was given only months to live, however she lived for nearly a year and a half.
When Matt and Chandra’s parents learned that her tumor was decreasing, they were overjoyed. Despite the fact that she had overcome enormous obstacles, Matt realized it was a losing struggle for Addy. “While we’re trying to change the outcome, we don’t expect to win this fight. We haven’t given up, but it seems we’re losing the battle.” He stated that the family had accepted the possibility of losing their daughter: “We don’t fear losing her, but we don’t look forward to it.”
