Mom Shares Photo of Her Child Battling Cancer to Show What the Struggle Is Like

A heart-wrenching viral photo of a young boy named Drake — AKA Stinky Joe — is shining a light on the painful truth of dealing with childhood cancer.

Thanks to social media, those suffering from illness and their families can share everything they’re going through, both the highest of highs or the lowest of lows. Recently, the latter was unfortunately on full display on Facebook.

In a post on the Stinky Joe’s #1 Pit Crew Facebook Page — a group dedicated to a young cancer patient named Drake — the boy’s mother posted a heartfelt letter about her child’s condition, accompanied by a photo with Drake in the bathroom.

She begins by defending the post from those who may find her post or the photo too personal.

“It is about to get real, real hard and real quick,” she wrote. “The picture I’m posting is from this morning, and before you scream and cry ‘why would she post a picture of him in a pull up, the indecency’, well 1. It doesn’t show more than swimming jammers would and 2. Because life is not always f*cking politically correct and pretty, it is real. So leave the page, don’t read the post, whatever… I need an outlease, (sic) life isn’t pretty, and cancer f*cking destroys a person.”

From there, the post details the physical and mental anguish that the cancer has taken on Drake:

“This was this morning after carrying Drake to the bathroom. Yes, he is in a pull up because 75 percent of the time he cant control his bathroom habits. This is skin and bones, because I have to beg him to eat ONE green bean for supper, or drink a cup of water through out the day. This is having your son sleep with you at night because he is afraid of something happening and being alone, and by something I mean dying. This is having middle of the night conversations with a 10-year-old, asking if he dies will he go to heaven and will he see his dad there and be able to talk and play with him. This is him being too weak to get out of bed or walk and needing to be carried or in a wheelchair. This is him falling asleep as someone is talking to him, because he is too exhausted. This is him, throwing up every medication I give him and him dry heaving because his stomach is empty except for the spoonful of yogurt I just gave him with his pills. This is having to take 44 chemo pills last week in a matter of 24 hours. This is him telling me, ‘Mommy, I’m not going to make it.’ This is him not wanting to be touched, because it hurts too much, and using morphine to get through his day. This is him telling me he is scared and thinks he wont see his 11th birthday. This is him and me, telling him that I will continue to fight for him when he can’t. This is him and me, and our world.”

Drake’s photo and story immediately struck a chord. The initial post, which went up on February 15 — International Cancer Day — and has garnered over 88,000 reactions, 58,000 shares, and 17,000 comments as of February 21st. In addition, the story was also shared by Love What Matters.

It’s arguable that the story resonated so well due to the obvious love “Stinky Joe’s” mother has for him. This is perhaps symbolized in the final line of the post.

“This is him, Drake, Stinky Joe, my whole world. From the moment I found out I was pregnant till future forever, he has been my reason for life. He is my smile, my love, my heartbeat. He is also my tears, my heart ache, my frowns. He is my life.”

Share Drake’s amazing story with your family and friends.

Your Daily Dish has reached out to Drake’s family at the Stinky Joe’s #1 Pit Crew for Comment.