Terminally Ill Teen Who Donated Life Savings to Six-year-Old Cancer-stricken-Boy Dies

The terminally ill teenager, Rhys Langford, from Ebbw Vale, who donated his life savings and raised more than £60,000 for a six-year-old-cancer-stricken-boy died on Tuesday evening, the BBC reported.

According to DailyMail, Langford was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in October of 2020. Upon knowing that he only had months to live, he donated £1,000 (approx. US$1,350) from his savings to a 6-year-old cancer-stricken boy whom he had never met. He also helped raise around £60,000 (approx. US$80,000) for him.

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The relentless treatments to beat cancer

According to Epoch times, Rhys' first cancer symptom was when he lost balance while sprinting with friends. At first, his parents thought that he had a groin strain. However, when the limping lingered two months later, they got concerned.

The doctors told the family that they found an 18-centimeter (7-inch) tumor in his right hip. Doctors also said that he only had a 50/50 survival rate. Rhys would comfort his parents despite the devastating news, saying that it's only cancer. He had ten weeks of chemotherapy and an operation to remove all the bones from his kneecap to his right hip.

Doctors found a cancerous mass in his thigh a year after his diagnosis. This time, the doctors told him that his cancer had metastasized to his groin, back, lymphatic system, and lungs.

The parents admitted that he had a dark stage, but somehow, the visits of Reverend Roy Watson, chaplain at the Hospice of the Valley, comforted him.

Rhys Langford Remembered

Before Rhys was diagnosed with cancer, the young man lived a vibrant life. He was a talented athlete before he got inflicted with cancer. When he was 16 years old, he earned a black belt in the martial arts, Krav Maga, and became one of the youngest black belter holders in the UK.

Before becoming ill, Rhys worked as a laborer for a water supplier. He has also climbed the highest mountain in Wales, Wales, and Snowdon three times. He planned on scaling Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Scotland and UK.

Days before his death, he called his mom to tell her that he would give his life savings to a six-year-old cancer-stricken boy who lives in his town for his treatments. He also set up a Go Fund Me Page to raise funds for the boy.

His mother said, "Although our hearts are breaking because our son is dying, at the same time, they are bursting with pride." Rhys' father, Paul, said that his son had always been a "very caring and selfless boy." He always thought of other people, he added.

The family of Jacob, the six-year-old cancer-stricken boy, posted their sympathies to the family on his Facebook page and expressed that their family is proud and thankful for what he did for Jacob. The boy was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and the funds raised by Rhys will be used for an experimental treatment in the US. 

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