A Canadian teen who rose to TikTok stardom documenting his viral “bucket checklist” adventures as he battled most cancers, died final week. He was 18.
Harrison Gilks died “together with his mother, dad and brother holding his arms and by his facet,” an obituary reads.
His youthful brother David shared the information on Harrison’s TikTok, the place he had amassed greater than 300,000 followers.
“I’m making this video as a result of Harrison sadly handed away a couple of hours in the past. He was not in ache when he handed away and he was together with his household,” his brother mentioned in the video posted on March 30. “I simply wished to return on right here and say thanks to everyone world wide for his or her help and encouragement. It actually did imply rather a lot to him.”
Harrison was recognized with rhabdomyosarcoma, a uncommon type of most cancers that almost all typically impacts kids, in November 2020, Canada’s CBC Information reported. The illness can kind in gentle tissues wherever within the physique, in keeping with the Mayo Clinic.
Harrison had defined in a TikTok that medical doctors had discovered a cancerous tumor “the scale of a grapefruit” in his prostate, and “a pair” of different tumors in his lungs. He mentioned he started chemotherapy about two weeks after his analysis.
By February 2022, he was displaying indicators of remission, his dad Trevor Gilks advised CBC Information. Nevertheless, inside a couple of months, the most cancers returned.
In June, Harrison shared a TikTok asserting his terminal analysis. He mentioned he’d be beginning a “bucket checklist” collection. The video went viral.
Within the following months, supported by donations from followers, Harrison traveled to bucket checklist locations like Mexico and New York, met with athletes he admired, parasailed, flew on helicopters, attended main sporting video games, music festivals and extra.
Harrison shared his final replace from a hospital mattress on March 21.
“The physician mentioned I don’t have an entire lot of time left,” he mentioned. “Possibilities of me going house are very slim.”
“I really like you guys. Thanks for all of the help all through all the things,” he mentioned.
In Harrison’s obituary, his household described him as “an inspiration to many.”
“His smile may mild up a room, his chuckle may cheer anybody up. He was our sunshine on a cloudy day,” it mentioned.
Harrison liked a variety of sports activities, together with hockey, softball, jet snowboarding, rugby, snowboarding and mountain biking, the obituary mentioned. In his closing months, he visited Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, New York and Florida for sporting matches, in addition to exploring the Rocky Mountains, Jasper and Banff, “earlier than one final journey to Mexico with household and pals. He was decided to not let most cancers get in his means.”
“However after almost two and a half years of a hard-fought battle, realizing he did as a lot as he may, realizing he was liked and powerful, he mentioned goodbye.”
Harrison is survived by his brother David, dad and mom Trevor and Sonya, and aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. A funeral service might be held on Thursday, and donations could also be made to a charity arrange in Harrison’s title.
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