X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
Product Guide
Sign in
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping

4-year-old cancer victim featured in viral photo has finally found her peace

22 Nov, 2016
4-year-old cancer victim featured in viral photo has finally found her peace

Jessica Whelan, the 4-year-old whose photo showed the "true face of child cancer" has quietly passed away.

Jessica Whelan, the little girl whose father shared photos of her struggle with cancer online has passed away.

“I told her it was OK to close her eyes and go to sleep”

Photo from: facebook.com / Jessica Whelan - A fight against Neuroblastoma

Photo from: facebook.com / Jessica Whelan – A fight against Neuroblastoma

After showing the world the true face of child cancer, Jessica Whelan has found her peace. The news was shared by her mother on the Facebook page that they created to raise awareness for childhood cancer as well as to share their story with the world.

Jessica’s father writes, “Last night she finally allowed me to hold her in my arms and we had a big cuddle as I told her how much I loved her. I told her again that it was okay for her to close her eyes and go to sleep and I kissed her forehead and her lips numerous times.”

While Jessica’s death was expected ever since the doctors diagnosed her cancer as terminal, it’s nevertheless heartbreaking to see a child so young die to such a debilitating disease like cancer.

“I’m sorry you had to suffer the way you did”

Jessica’s father felt devastated after her passing. He shares, “She was a daddy’s girl from the start and even right up to the end. I feel like a massive part of me has just been torn away but I am so glad that I could give her that comfort in her final hours.”

Mr. Whelan was also responsible for sharing the heartbreaking photo of her daughter’s struggle with cancer. An act which he was criticized for doing, but he said that he wanted to show the world that cancer isn’t always the smiling faces that you see online, and that her daughter’s photo whilst she was in pain was the true face of cancer.

In another post, Mr. Whelan shares his pain: “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from this evil world baby girl, I’m sorry you had to suffer the way you did. It breaks me to think about what you have had to endure for a quarter of your short life and it will be a cause of my nightmares for me for years to come.”

Go to the next page to learn more about childhood cancer.

What makes childhood cancer so dangerous?

Cancer in general is caused by cells in the body that start growing out of control. In adults, cancer is mostly caused by lifestyle or environmental factors. For children however, cancer is very different as they are often due to DNA changes that occur very early in life; in some cases these changes happen even before birth.

That’s why childhood cancer is dangerous, since it happens very early in life and the treatment can sometimes cause various side effects that plague the patient, even if he or she survives treatment.

That is also the exact reason why awareness about childhood cancer is very important. Since childhood cancer simply suddenly shows up, treatment is very important. Researchers and doctors are constantly looking for ways of treating childhood cancer that don’t have side effects that can affect a child’s quality of life.

READ: Dad’s heartbreaking photo of his daughter shows the ‘true face of cancer’

Sources: dailymail.co.uk, bbc.com, cancer.org

Be sure to check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful stories, questions, and answers from parents and experts alike. If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!

 

Partner Stories
Wish You Were Here: Family-friendly Outdoor Activities To Do In Hong Kong
Wish You Were Here: Family-friendly Outdoor Activities To Do In Hong Kong
Globe FamSURF199: Fast, affordable, and family-friendly internet connection
Globe FamSURF199: Fast, affordable, and family-friendly internet connection
IKEA celebrates the joys of motherhood
IKEA celebrates the joys of motherhood
Next-Gen Ford Everest: 6 Reasons Why This Is Your Family's Next Dream Car!
Next-Gen Ford Everest: 6 Reasons Why This Is Your Family's Next Dream Car!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jan Alwyn Batara

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Lifestyle Section
  • /
  • 4-year-old cancer victim featured in viral photo has finally found her peace
Share:
  • Unwrapping Joy: 5 Pinoy inspired Christmas party games for the family

    Unwrapping Joy: 5 Pinoy inspired Christmas party games for the family

  • Tips on how to save money on your household budget

    Tips on how to save money on your household budget

  • 5 Money saving tips to keep your budget on track during the holidays

    5 Money saving tips to keep your budget on track during the holidays

  • Unwrapping Joy: 5 Pinoy inspired Christmas party games for the family

    Unwrapping Joy: 5 Pinoy inspired Christmas party games for the family

  • Tips on how to save money on your household budget

    Tips on how to save money on your household budget

  • 5 Money saving tips to keep your budget on track during the holidays

    5 Money saving tips to keep your budget on track during the holidays

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it