The dad of a dying five-year-old shared his son’s heartbreaking “last act” before he lost his battle to cancer.
Nathaniel Gidman, known as Nate, died early on Monday morning after being diagnosed with Medulloblastoma - a cancerous brain tumour found in children.
Phil Gidman, originally from Birkenhead, has posted regular updates on his son’s illness on Twitter since he was diagnosed in 2020.
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Phil and his partner Nicola Smith, who live in Lincoln, told Nottinghamshire Live concerns around Nate's health started to grow in September 2020 after he began being sick every day "like clockwork".
After initially being told it was due to problems with his stomach and then an aggressive fever, a scan revealed Nate had a mass in his head, and he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
A week before his fourth birthday, surgeons operated and managed to safely remove 90% of the tumour. This was followed by an intensive cycle of high dose chemotherapy and targeted radiation, which caused hair and some hearing loss.
However on November 16 last year, the family was given the heartbreaking news the cancer was terminal and Nate was give just six months to live.
Posting on Twitter yesterday morning (Monday, February 7), Phil informed his followers that Nate had lost his battle just three months later.
He wrote: “It is with a profound sadness that I say that at 3:11 this morning our Nate died. As unexpected this soon, it was peaceful and both me and mum were there.
“Your love has been phenomenal.
“We love you with all our hearts, sleep well and dream big son.”
The post gained reaction from more than 17,000 people who have followed Nate’s journey and almost two thousand people sending the family their deepest regards.
Among those were Tranmere Rovers FC, a club which Nate and his dad shared a love for and who have shown support to the family since first hearing of Nate's diagnosis.
Reflecting on his son's character, Phil told the ECHO how "loving" the five-year-old was.
He said: "He was loving. He was loved. He was strong and he’s still making people happy today.
"He’s special. He is, because he’s not gone, he’s that warmth in my heart."
Phil has continued to post updates of how the family are coping after losing Nate and last night he shared a picture of his son’s final "mark on the world" - a painting which he made the night before he died.
Phil added: "When I first got thinking about the potential outcome of this, my head was a mess. I figured that I’d struggle to cope and had dark thoughts.
"I’ve lost my son. My best friend but I feel lucky that I’ve been father to one of the finest people to walk the earth.
"He resonated absolute love and laughter.
"There’s still him in the air, in the atmosphere. He is light in the darkness."
Tranmere Rovers FC confirmed there will be a collection at tonight's match (Tuesday, February 8) against Swindon Town to raise funds for The Children’s Brain Tumour Research Fund - a charity his family have requested people make donations to as opposed to sending flowers.
