The 8-year-old son of retired NYPD Lt. Eric Dym has passed away after capturing the hearts of those who followed his courageous battle against brain cancer.
“Derek fought so hard,” his grieving father shared with The Post. “This cancer is truly a monster.”
The young boy, who enjoyed Minecraft, swimming, and art, peacefully passed away on May 1 after a 14-month fight against DMG Glioma, an aggressive form of cancer affecting approximately 300 children in the US each year.
“We always believed that if anyone could overcome it, it would be Derek,” said Dym, a former Marine and co-host of a podcast on policing based in New York City.
The incredible fight put up by the youngster, who never complained, resulted in an overwhelming response. A GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $600,000 to assist the family with expenses.
The cancer initially presented with headaches while Dym, his wife Luiza, Derek, and their 3-year-old daughter Ellie were living in Bali, having sold their home to embark on an adventure through Asia.
The Dyms quickly relocated to Los Angeles, the closest US city with a children’s hospital, where Derek underwent radiation and oral chemotherapy for the inoperable tumor in his brain.
In addition to traditional treatments, the Dyms also invested in expensive alternative therapies such as a sound-therapy machine and a device utilizing low-frequency electric fields to target cancer cells.
Unfortunately, Derek’s condition continued to deteriorate. He was placed in hospice care on March 5, and Laguna Beach police officers escorted the family to an apartment to provide comfort care for Derek.
“We were battling on two fronts. On one hand, we knew it was incurable. On the other hand, we held out hope for a miracle, refusing to give up,” Dym shared.
Derek peacefully passed away on Easter Sunday, slipping into a deep sleep, leaving his little sister Ellie questioning when he would play, talk, and walk again.
Ellie was informed that Derek had gone to live with God, prompting her to express her desire to join him. Dym fondly remembered Derek as his hero, cherishing the good memories until they meet again.
