'You did an amazing job, my beautiful boy': Mum's heartbreaking message to her son, nine, after he lost a four-year battle with an extremely rare brain disease
- Miller was diagnosed with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration
- He has struggled to walk, talk and has lost part of his vision since the year 2015
- The nine-year-old lost a four-year battle with the rare disease on May 20 at 11am
- His mother has remember him as a 'beautiful boy' who 'fought one hell of a fight'
A heartbroken mother has remembered her nine-year-old son as a 'beautiful boy' who 'fought one hell of a fight' after he lost a four-year battle with a rare disease.
Miller O'Flynn was diagnosed with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) – a disorder in the nervous system causing trouble with walking, talking and loss of vision due to an abnormal build-up of iron in the brain – in 2015.
The boy from Aroona on Queensland's Sunshine Coast died after a long battle with his family by his side on May 15 at 11am.
'Mill you fought one hell of a fight mate, and you did it. Buddy you won,' mother Sophie Cashen wrote as a tribute to her son on Facebook.
'You did an amazing job my beautiful boy. We all love you so much. Mummy loves you so much.'
Miller O'Flynn (pictured) was diagnosed with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration – a disorder in the nervous system causing trouble with walking, talking and loss of vision
'Mill you fought one hell of a fight mate, and you did it. Buddy you won,' mother Sophie Cashen (pictured with Miller) wrote as a tribute to her son on Facebook
Miller learned of his debilitating disease after he caught a cold and could not control his movements.
The disease affected his body so rapidly, he was unable to walk, eat or speak properly within 10 days.
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Doctors predicted Miller would not make live past his 10th birthday.
His mother Sophie Cashen said her son's rare illness was only one of three cases in Australia.
Ms Cashen described Miller as 'strong, funny cheeky, kind and generous' boy.
'He never let his challenges stop him from doing the things he loved doing, no matter how difficult it became for him,' Ms Cashen told Daily Mail Australia.
'He taught compassion and kindness and spread happiness and joy everywhere he went.
'I am so proud of him and the beautiful boy he was.'
A week before his death, Miller was given a niki pump to help provide him with continuous doses of morphine and anti-nausea medicine from a tube to his cheek and legs.
Miller was given the new machine to avoid the need for constant rescue doses to relieve his suffering.
Miller learned of his debilitating disease after he caught a cold and could not control his movements
The disease affected his body so rapidly, he was unable to walk, eat or speak properly within 10 days
American not-for-profit group the Spoonbill Foundation is in the process of developing a compound called CoA-Z with Dr Ody Sibon from the Netherlands, which may be a cure for PKAN.
But $350,000 of funding is needed to produce the first large batch and trials of the compound will cost approximately $35,000 per patient, with totals of $6-$22 million, according to the website.
Many online users paid tribute to Miller and described him as a 'superhero' and a 'warrior'.
'Miller, your strength and determination inspired so many – including me! You are now pain free and live on in our hearts,' one wrote.
'Rest In Peace Dear Little One. You are a warrior with strength we can only dream of,' another wrote.
One added: 'Fly high Miller you'll always be in everyone's hearts our very own superhero.'
Hundreds of loved ones and members of the public attended Miller's funeral in Buderim on May 20.
Many farwelled the nine-year-old boy at a funeral ceremony in the Sunshine Coast on May 20
Hundreds of loved ones and members of the public attended Miller's funeral in Buderim on May 20
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