The terminally ill seven-year-old Ontario boy whose town rallied around him to help him celebrate Christmas early has died, his family said Sunday.
Evan Leversage attracted international attention in October when his hometown of St. George, Ont., granted him his wish of celebrating Christmas one last time.
In a statement Sunday, Evan's mother, Nicole Wellwood, wrote that her son "died with the most beautiful smile on his face” as she held him in her arms.
“It was as if he knew his mommy needed to see that to know that he was ok and now in a better place,” Wellwood said.
Evan, who was suffering from an inoperable brain tumour, passed away at the Stedman Community Hospice in Brantford, Ont., where he was admitted on Nov. 4.
Wellwood said she hoped to keep Evan at home until his “dying day” but his condition worsened to the point where it could be “no longer managed” at home.
A Facebook page dedicated to the ailing boy posted Saturday that "his time is nearing the end," and that he had been asleep for a few days without eating or drinking.
Evan was diagnosed with the brain tumour two days before his second birthday. An aggressive 18-month chemotherapy program stopped the tumour's growth for a few years. However, the tumour returned last January.
Evan’s father, Travis Leversage, said that the Oct. 24 Christmas parade in St. George was “the most magical night of his life.”
“To see more than 7,000 strangers line the street for Evan and our family, their compassion really gave me a renewed hope that there is so much love in the world,” Travis said in the statement.
The family says they would like to extend their “sincere thanks to everyone who has been a part of Evan’s journey.”
The family also thanked the Town of St. George, the hospice and "everyone who has been a part of Evan's journey."
Wellwood said: “While my heart has broken, it is slowly being mended by the outpouring of love and support that we have received at this time."
Funeral arrangements are being made and will be finalized in the coming days.
