'My boy forever': Dying doctor, 40, posts photo of his 'final moment' with his young son just hours before passing away from Motor Neurone disease

  • A father who battled Motor Neurone Disease for seven years has passed away 
  • Dr Ian Davis dedicated his final years to raising awareness about the disease
  • Only hours before his death, he posted a heartfelt message to his son Archer
  • 'Please tell my boy I love him and I'm so proud to be his dad,' he wrote 

By Alex Chapman For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 10:54 EDT, 1 November 2018 | Updated: 12:01 EDT, 1 November 2018

A father who dedicated himself to fighting Motor Neurone Disease shared a heartbreaking farewell to his son hours before his death.

Dr Ian Davis was diagnosed in 2011 when he was only 33, and worked to raise awareness about the deadly disease 'until his final days'.

He died midday Thursday in a Melbourne hospital bed surrounded by family. 

Prior to taking his final breath, Dr Davis posted to Facebook one last time, sharing his 'final moment' with his son Archer.

Prior to taking his final breath, Dr Ian Davis posted to Facebook one last time, sharing his 'final moment' with his son (pictured)

Prior to taking his final breath, Dr Ian Davis posted to Facebook one last time, sharing his 'final moment' with his son (pictured)

Embracing his son in a hospital bed and with an oxygen tube running from his nose, Dr Davis accompanied the photo with a heartfelt message (pictured) 

Embracing his son in a hospital bed and with an oxygen tube running from his nose, Dr Davis accompanied the photo with a heartfelt message (pictured) 

A strong advocate for raising awareness for Motor Neurone Disease, Dr Davis has encouraged others to take up the battle in his memory

A strong advocate for raising awareness for Motor Neurone Disease, Dr Davis has encouraged others to take up the battle in his memory

Dr Davis accompanied a photo of himself embracing his son in a hospital bed and with an oxygen tube running from his nose with a heartfelt message.

'Today I say farewell. Thank you everyone for all the support, love, and compassion over the years during my fight. It has been some ride,' he wrote.

'I will leave this broken body with a full heart.

'Please tell my boy I love him and I'm so proud to be his dad. This photo taken yesterday is our final moment together.'

Dr Davis (pictured with his son) was a prominent advocate for raising awareness of MND

Dr Davis (pictured with his son) was a prominent advocate for raising awareness of MND

He was first diagnosed in 2011 at the age of 33-years-old, writing earlier in 2018 that his affliction had made him a 'burden' on his wife, Melissa (left)

He was first diagnosed in 2011 at the age of 33-years-old, writing earlier in 2018 that his affliction had made him a 'burden' on his wife, Melissa (left)

He urged others to continue the fight he started against Motor Neurone Disease. 

Dr Davis played a 'profound' role in raising awareness on the debilitating disease, FightMND Chairman Bill Guest said.

Dr Davis co-founded the foundation and was the inaugural chairman before the disease prevented him from continuing.

In his final message on Facebook, he urged his supporters to donate to the organisation in his honour. 

In 2014, he co-founded FightMND, an organisation that raised $40million towards research

In 2014, he co-founded FightMND, an organisation that raised $40million towards research

'Tell my boy I love him and I'm so proud of him,' Dr Davis wrote only hours before his passing

'Tell my boy I love him and I'm so proud of him,' Dr Davis wrote only hours before his passing

Dr Davis leaves behind a legacy of joining medical experts across the globe in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease.

In March, FightMND hosted the first Australasian Motor Neurone Disease Symposium, which brought together 400 delegates from all over the world.

FightMND has raised more than $40million since its inception in 2014.

At the time, Dr Davis wrote: 'MND is kicking my butt today. I'm in hospital at the moment fighting pneumonia and the beast just might get me this time. I'm not ready to go, I still have so much left to do, but I might not have a choice this time.

'I am such an emotional, physical burden on my family. It's not fair on them.'

He passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends, and is survived by Archer and his wife Melissa.

MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE

Motor Neuron Disease, or MND, is 'an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time', according to Britain's National Health Service.

The weakness is caused by the deterioration of upper motor neurons that travel from the brain down the spinal cord, and lower motor neurons that spread out to the face, throat and limbs.

Early MND symptoms include:

- Weakness in the ankle or leg, which may manifest itself with trips or difficulty ascending stairs, and a weakness in the ability to grip things.

- Slurred speech is an early symptom and may later worsen to include difficulty swallowing food.

- Muscle cramps or twitches are also a symptom, as is weight loss due to leg and arm muscles growing thinner over time.

According to the most recent statistics, there are about 1,200 Australians currently diagnosed with MND and about 400 new cases each year.

In 2016, the most recently recorded year, 791 Australians died from MND.

Source: Brain Foundation Australia 

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Dying doctor shares his 'final moment' with his son hours before passing from Motor Neurone disease

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