SAYING GOODBYE TO 4-YEAR-OLD SON

The doctor told Claire that her son, Léo, had cancer that was incurable. The only goal was to keep him comfortable until the end.

She went to her son’s room, where he was watching videos on his tablet. Sitting next to him, she rested her head on his, and they had an emotional conversation.

“Is it hard to breathe?” Claire asked.

“Um… yes,” Léo replied.

“Does it hurt all the time?”

“Yes…”

Claire, with a heavy heart, said, “This cancer is terrible… You know, you don’t have to fight anymore.”

Léo smiled gently, “You don’t have to fight anymore? But I’ll keep fighting for you!”

Claire gently replied, “You’re doing it for me?”

“Yes,” the boy nodded.

“And what is a mother’s job?” she asked.

“To protect her!” he said, smiling brightly.

With tears in her eyes, Claire whispered, “My love… She can’t protect me here anymore. The only way to do that now is from the sky.”

Léo smiled again, “Then I’ll go to the sky and play while I wait for you! Will you come?”

“Of course you’ll come! I can’t get rid of you that easily!”

“Thank you, Mom!” the boy said. “I’ll play while I wait for you!”

That was their last conversation. For the next few hours, Claire stayed by her side, cherishing every moment. They laughed, played, and fought bad guys with toy guns. Léo even told her he wanted to be remembered “As a policeman.”

An hour later, while Claire went to the bathroom, Léo fell asleep. When she returned, his little body had stopped breathing. But in his final moments, Léo opened his eyes, smiled, and whispered, “I love you, Mom.”

The little boy closed his eyes, and Claire sang softly to him as he passed away in her arms, just four years old.

The photo shared was not just one photo – but two.

In the first, Léo lay on the bathroom mat, waiting for his mother.

In the second, the mat was empty. A quiet reminder of a sweet little boy who once waited for his mother.

Tonight, if your child is near you, put down your phone, forget what you’re doing, and give him a long, warm hug.

Hug your loved ones – cherish every moment