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Mom Shares Photos Of Her 10-Year-Old Son Battling Cancer, And It Will Break Your Heart
Cancer is something we can’t really comprehend unless we or somebody close to us have been diagnosed with it. But it’s impossible not to feel the raw and brutal reality of the disease when you see this heartbreaking photograph of 10-year-old Drake Medinger from Tomball, Texas, suffering from cancer and the effects of chemotherapy.
The picture, which was recently shared on Facebook by his mother Jessica, and later shared by Love What Matters, was accompanied by a lengthy post about the harrowing day-to-day struggles of living with cancer. “This was this morning after carrying Drake to the bathroom,” she wrote about the image. “Yes, he is in a pull up because 75% of the time he can’t control his bathroom habits. This is skin and bones, because I have to beg him to eat ONE green bean for supper, or drink a cup of water throughout the day. This is having your son sleep with you at night because he is afraid of something happening and being alone, and by something I mean dying.”
Drake was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 and appeared to have beat the disease in 2016, but shortly after he began a new fight, this time against testicular cancer. The image has since been shared almost 80k times, and Love What Matters has set up a special mailbox to collect cards and messages of support for Drake. You can also help Drake’s fight against cancer by contributing here.
More info: Facebook
RELATED:
A mom from Texas shared this heartbreaking picture of her 10-year-old son Drake suffering from cancer
She accompanied the image with a lengthy post about their harrowing daily struggles with the disease
“He is my smile, my love, my heartbeat,” she wrote
“He is also my tears, my heart ache, my frowns”
“He is my life”
Thousands of people responded to the post with prayers and their own stories of battling cancer
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What do you think ?
Quant 7 years ago
Some things should remain personal and private. This is not that I don't share the pain when I look at this poor kid, I do, it breaks my heart. The thing is - this explicit public exploitation is unnecessary. It's in fact unthinkable for me to publish pictures of my sick family members online, because one - they would hate it, two - there is no need to raise awareness... EVERYONE is aware... Instead what this feels like is clickbait and it sucks. Not cool.
Ashraf Rahal 7 years ago
There are Organisations like WOC ( War on Cancer) that dedicate their time, and effort to fight cancer, research more treatments and most importantly helping Cancer patients share their stories, a lot of the patients love to share their stories, and it might help them fight the disease, so maybe you can see it with another perspective !
Load More Replies...
Intensive Panda 7 years ago
Why share these photos?! Never understood why people sharing pictures of their sick children.
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Maybe think for a second.People may need to not feel so lonely,helpless,isolated,they might need a kind word or help.try being compassionate
Load More Replies...
lunanoir69 7 years ago
Thank you for showing us what people in the REAL WORLD go through. For those of us who have taken care of our family while they have suffered through cancer, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. My prayers are with Drake and his family, not my criticism for posting pictures of a sick child. My little brother died from Cystic Fibrosis, my nephews died from muscular dystrophy. I took care of my mom for 8 years until she died from cancer. I cherish the photos of them, even though they were sick and didn't always look PRETTY for the photos. Quit criticizing this parent for sharing these pictures. Taking care of someone who is so ill is VERY VERY LONELY when no one else understands! My love to Drake, and my prayers that someday he can look at these photos and say "Wow, I made it!" and be healthy again.
moonsong23 7 years ago
Very well said. People shouldn't criticize this mom because knowing cancer exists and seeing and emotionally feeling the effects it has on people are not the same. This isn't clickbait because it told exactly what the heading said it would, it was an important issue, and to everyone who disagrees, did you not know when you clicked on it that is would be about cancer? So yes, @lunanoir69, I agree with you, and everyone else who understands how awful cancer is. P.S. to everyone who posted a mean comment, imagine that mom reading your comment. How would she feel knowing that people don't care about her little boy and think that this is clickbait? Sometimes you have to put yourselves in others' shoes and look at things from someone else's point of veiw.
Load More Replies...
Stille20 7 years ago
If a nonprofit organization used photos like this, it would be considered unethical, but I suppose a mother of a very sick child does not have the advantage of calm rational reactions. I do wish people were more mindful. I'm sure this is not how this child wants people seeing him.
Babs 7 years ago
Kids under the age of 18 should not be exploited by their parents or shown without clothes on at his age. The worst part is the horrible pain he is in when you took this picture. This is private. I don't care what reason you have for sharing it, it doesn't make it fair to do to this kid. It should not be on the internet for everyone to see.
Mirriam Banda 7 years ago
He is such a cute child. I pray he gets better, and that cancer never returns.
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Thank you Bored panda and Jessica/Drake for reminding us how precious every moment is.We wish you every chance possible to get thru this.xx
Lilly Rose 7 years ago
I feel so bad for anyone out there who has cancer, especially because lately my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I fully understand the graveness of it.
Jeena Fuderer 7 years ago
I'm a 26 year survivor. I was diagnosed with leukemia at age 9. I have a lot of pictures of myself and I've put some online. Please don't judge someone for how they are handling hell.
alyssa sneed 7 years ago
I am very sorry. Cancer is very hard to go through at that age. I hope he will beat cancer and be able to live a amazing life
Nirav C 7 years ago
Thank you so much for this post. I cannot believe the comments here. what has the world come to? What kind of people are these saying ''things should remain private" and "this is public exploitation"? Please keep your uptight views to yourself and appreciate this immensely strong mother who has decided to share this with the world to show that not everyone's life is filled with rainbows and chocolate. I hope, with all my heart, that Drake gets better.
Simon Kwan 7 years ago
Despite some negative comments about Jessica sharing such an unflattering photo of her son Drake, that dramatic image moved me to donate
Stela Golisheva 7 years ago
God bless you dear child! My prayers are with you, no child should suffer any pain, it is so cruel and unfair.
Lyndsey Parker 7 years ago
My god i just dont beleave some of the things i read sorry for my typos but my keyboard is playing up! But not as bad as some peoples attitudes!
Lyndsey Parker 7 years ago
My god listen to you have you read what you just wrote do you rraly not think this famly is going threw enought without the sad little remarks that yes ;you may feel like his mum shouldnbof done this bit give the woman a break for god sake take that finger and go and point oband moan about somone who hasnt got enought on her plate who probly was crying her eyes out whilst writing that. What sort of humans our we when somthing this horrible and yet you still feel though you have to point the finger or shame well all i can say is SHAME ON YOU!
Phillipe Knippel 7 years ago
Me and my family we didnt have contact with this s**t, until our Boxer (Úrsula) got it in November 2016 and man, this is devastating. She was 8 yo and was the most lovely dog. I LOVED HER. She traveled with me by car, camping, and she just loved using the car and go to the beach. In januray 2017 we had to choose the euthanasia. Thats strange because i couldnt imagine my life without her, but when I realize, i was asking the planet to take her away and stop with the suffering..........................................
Claudio Garroni 7 years ago
She - as a loving mother I supose, shows us how hard life could be and in a way she also reminds us to be happy for the little things in life.....so cut her some slack for heaven sake !!!
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Support can come in many forms.. simple words of understanding can sometimes get us thru the toughest of times. Criticism is unhelpful here
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
A lot of us may be strangers to Jessica and Drake but sometimes family and friends just don't know what to say or there may not be any
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Compassion to me means to show an understanding of what someone is going through and to comfort them in a non judgmental way.
Sleepy Grove 7 years ago
Try to see it this way: If this picture helps people prepare for the atrocities of cancer it is a good thing. No, not everyone is aware.
Sleepy Grove 7 years ago
Maybe, just maybe he will be proud of himself if he is able to beat cancer. It'll make him a survivor. The survivor of something very real.
Load More Replies... Tasha Harris 7 years ago
I feel it's inconsiderate to talk about what is right or wrong about posting about this crushing situation as thou Jessica isn't here.
Marioara Popescu 7 years ago
Why the hell post that s**t? Who does it benefit? Everybody knows what cancer is and what it does, no need to plaster your sick son all over the internet. That is f****d up.
Heather Derby 7 years ago
You clicked on the link. In the future it may help you or a loved one cope, understand, or maybe even help. No. Not everyone knows. And if there is another sick kid out there that be helped by his story, that's better than 1 petty person such as yourself degrading their journey.
Load More Replies...
AcousticGString 7 years ago
Wow ... This kid may have cancer, but you are clearly the sick one here.
Load More Replies... Quant 7 years ago
Some things should remain personal and private. This is not that I don't share the pain when I look at this poor kid, I do, it breaks my heart. The thing is - this explicit public exploitation is unnecessary. It's in fact unthinkable for me to publish pictures of my sick family members online, because one - they would hate it, two - there is no need to raise awareness... EVERYONE is aware... Instead what this feels like is clickbait and it sucks. Not cool.
Ashraf Rahal 7 years ago
There are Organisations like WOC ( War on Cancer) that dedicate their time, and effort to fight cancer, research more treatments and most importantly helping Cancer patients share their stories, a lot of the patients love to share their stories, and it might help them fight the disease, so maybe you can see it with another perspective !
Load More Replies... Intensive Panda 7 years ago
Why share these photos?! Never understood why people sharing pictures of their sick children.
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Maybe think for a second.People may need to not feel so lonely,helpless,isolated,they might need a kind word or help.try being compassionate
Load More Replies... lunanoir69 7 years ago
Thank you for showing us what people in the REAL WORLD go through. For those of us who have taken care of our family while they have suffered through cancer, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. My prayers are with Drake and his family, not my criticism for posting pictures of a sick child. My little brother died from Cystic Fibrosis, my nephews died from muscular dystrophy. I took care of my mom for 8 years until she died from cancer. I cherish the photos of them, even though they were sick and didn't always look PRETTY for the photos. Quit criticizing this parent for sharing these pictures. Taking care of someone who is so ill is VERY VERY LONELY when no one else understands! My love to Drake, and my prayers that someday he can look at these photos and say "Wow, I made it!" and be healthy again.
moonsong23 7 years ago
Very well said. People shouldn't criticize this mom because knowing cancer exists and seeing and emotionally feeling the effects it has on people are not the same. This isn't clickbait because it told exactly what the heading said it would, it was an important issue, and to everyone who disagrees, did you not know when you clicked on it that is would be about cancer? So yes, @lunanoir69, I agree with you, and everyone else who understands how awful cancer is. P.S. to everyone who posted a mean comment, imagine that mom reading your comment. How would she feel knowing that people don't care about her little boy and think that this is clickbait? Sometimes you have to put yourselves in others' shoes and look at things from someone else's point of veiw.
Load More Replies... Stille20 7 years ago
If a nonprofit organization used photos like this, it would be considered unethical, but I suppose a mother of a very sick child does not have the advantage of calm rational reactions. I do wish people were more mindful. I'm sure this is not how this child wants people seeing him.
Babs 7 years ago
Kids under the age of 18 should not be exploited by their parents or shown without clothes on at his age. The worst part is the horrible pain he is in when you took this picture. This is private. I don't care what reason you have for sharing it, it doesn't make it fair to do to this kid. It should not be on the internet for everyone to see.
Mirriam Banda 7 years ago
He is such a cute child. I pray he gets better, and that cancer never returns.
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Thank you Bored panda and Jessica/Drake for reminding us how precious every moment is.We wish you every chance possible to get thru this.xx
Lilly Rose 7 years ago
I feel so bad for anyone out there who has cancer, especially because lately my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I fully understand the graveness of it.
Jeena Fuderer 7 years ago
I'm a 26 year survivor. I was diagnosed with leukemia at age 9. I have a lot of pictures of myself and I've put some online. Please don't judge someone for how they are handling hell.
alyssa sneed 7 years ago
I am very sorry. Cancer is very hard to go through at that age. I hope he will beat cancer and be able to live a amazing life
Nirav C 7 years ago
Thank you so much for this post. I cannot believe the comments here. what has the world come to? What kind of people are these saying ''things should remain private" and "this is public exploitation"? Please keep your uptight views to yourself and appreciate this immensely strong mother who has decided to share this with the world to show that not everyone's life is filled with rainbows and chocolate. I hope, with all my heart, that Drake gets better.
Simon Kwan 7 years ago
Despite some negative comments about Jessica sharing such an unflattering photo of her son Drake, that dramatic image moved me to donate
Stela Golisheva 7 years ago
God bless you dear child! My prayers are with you, no child should suffer any pain, it is so cruel and unfair.
Lyndsey Parker 7 years ago
My god i just dont beleave some of the things i read sorry for my typos but my keyboard is playing up! But not as bad as some peoples attitudes!
Lyndsey Parker 7 years ago
My god listen to you have you read what you just wrote do you rraly not think this famly is going threw enought without the sad little remarks that yes ;you may feel like his mum shouldnbof done this bit give the woman a break for god sake take that finger and go and point oband moan about somone who hasnt got enought on her plate who probly was crying her eyes out whilst writing that. What sort of humans our we when somthing this horrible and yet you still feel though you have to point the finger or shame well all i can say is SHAME ON YOU!
Phillipe Knippel 7 years ago
Me and my family we didnt have contact with this s**t, until our Boxer (Úrsula) got it in November 2016 and man, this is devastating. She was 8 yo and was the most lovely dog. I LOVED HER. She traveled with me by car, camping, and she just loved using the car and go to the beach. In januray 2017 we had to choose the euthanasia. Thats strange because i couldnt imagine my life without her, but when I realize, i was asking the planet to take her away and stop with the suffering..........................................
Claudio Garroni 7 years ago
She - as a loving mother I supose, shows us how hard life could be and in a way she also reminds us to be happy for the little things in life.....so cut her some slack for heaven sake !!!
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Support can come in many forms.. simple words of understanding can sometimes get us thru the toughest of times. Criticism is unhelpful here
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
A lot of us may be strangers to Jessica and Drake but sometimes family and friends just don't know what to say or there may not be any
Tasha Harris 7 years ago
Compassion to me means to show an understanding of what someone is going through and to comfort them in a non judgmental way.
Sleepy Grove 7 years ago
Try to see it this way: If this picture helps people prepare for the atrocities of cancer it is a good thing. No, not everyone is aware.
Sleepy Grove 7 years ago
Maybe, just maybe he will be proud of himself if he is able to beat cancer. It'll make him a survivor. The survivor of something very real.
Load More Replies... Tasha Harris 7 years ago
I feel it's inconsiderate to talk about what is right or wrong about posting about this crushing situation as thou Jessica isn't here.
Marioara Popescu 7 years ago
Why the hell post that s**t? Who does it benefit? Everybody knows what cancer is and what it does, no need to plaster your sick son all over the internet. That is f****d up.
Heather Derby 7 years ago
You clicked on the link. In the future it may help you or a loved one cope, understand, or maybe even help. No. Not everyone knows. And if there is another sick kid out there that be helped by his story, that's better than 1 petty person such as yourself degrading their journey.
Load More Replies... AcousticGString 7 years ago
Wow ... This kid may have cancer, but you are clearly the sick one here.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
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