A teenager who inspired millions by sharing his battle with a rare disease has tragically passed away.
18-year-old Harrison Gilks from Canada was a beloved TikTok influencer who went viral after documenting his attempts to cross off every single entry on his bucket list following his diagnosis with a rare form of cancer.
According to the reports, the young man was suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer that begins in soft tissue.
Following his 2020 diagnosis, Harrison embarked on a grueling journey consisting of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. While he went into remission in February 2022, cancer returned and became terminal in June of the same year.
After he was told he could no longer be treated, the boy decided to document his final moments and attempt to finish as many bucket list tasks as possible.
“This isn’t the normal type of stuff I post, but I found out today that I have terminal cancer. I was cancer-free for a little bit, but unfortunately, it came back. The reason I’m making this and putting it out there is because I’d like to make a little series,” Harrison admitted in a heartbreaking video back in June.
“I’m gonna go out and do a bunch of stuff that I’ve always wanted to do, maybe skydiving, stuff along those lines.”
Among other bucket list entries he managed to cross off, the teenager attended a festival, went on a helicopter ride, met his favorite sports players, and vacationed in places like the Rocky Mountains and Mexico.
Unfortunately, the 18-year-old succumbed to his condition on March 30. As his family confirmed, Harrison died surrounded by his loved ones including his mom, dad, and brother.
“The cancer has spread to my liver and one of my lungs filled with fluid. It’s really hard to breathe. The doctors said I don’t have a whole lot of time left. I’ll be in the hospital for the remainder of whatever time I have left. It’s obviously very upsetting,” the young man said in his March 21 video.
“I wish there was something that you guys could do, or I could do, or the doctors could do – but there isn’t. This is just the way it goes.
“The best thing you guys can do is pray for me. I’ve been doing a lot of praying. Pray for me and my family. It’s been a great ride.”
Our thoughts are with Harrison’s family and friends during this challenging time.
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