Their six-year-old son is nearing the end of his short but precious life, yet Bradley Lowery’s parents are still taking the trouble to keep people who have shown the family support updated.
They have shared a heartbreaking statement on his Facebook page, via close family friend Lynn.
“Update on Brad,” it reads. “Bradley is still fighting to stay with us. Nobody knows where he is getting the strength from or how he is doing it.
“He has been very close to going with the angels but he pulls himself out of it.
“It is a hard time for us watching for our baby to take his last breath.
“He started with fighting and he is ending with fighting.”
They ended the message with the hashtags #nationshero and #ourlittlefighter
At the weekend Bradley’s incredible family shared an update on their brave boy as he said his goodbye to his friends.
They explained: “Update on brad is….he is very weak and finding breathing difficult but he is fighting it.
“He insisted on having a party and he invited his cousins and girlfriend Poppy yesterday. They all laid on the bed having cuddles, I think it was his way of saying his goodbyes.
“Late last night his best friend Jermain came to visit him and it was so heartwarming seeing how Bradley reacted. He was so happy and laid for ages getting cuddles. Bradley was really relaxed with him.
“Thank you again for your support, although we are getting a lot of messages and comments, we are going to get through them all eventually, as your words do really mean a lot to us all x x”
The family also posted pictures of Bradley’s party, as he shared cuddles with his young friends, as well as footballer Jermain.
Yesterday, Bradley’s mum Gemma wrote: “Bradley is very weak now but is still fighting on in true Bradley style. He will only go when he decides. Xxx”
This week, the family revealed that Bradley – who has been battling neuroblastoma since he was 18 months old – was deteriorating fast.
A Facebook post, thought to have been sent from his Gemma, read: “Bradley is deteriorating fast, his temperature is going very high his breathing very fast his oxygen levels low.
“He is sleeping most the time apart from odd times awake.
“We knew this was coming but we are heartbroken beyond words.
“We have been told he could be like this for days it just depends on him and his body.”
This follows an earlier post on the six-year-old’s Facebook page.
“Bradley has not been well the last few days, he has struggled to keep any food, medicine or fluid down which has resulted in him been in a lot of pain.
“The nurse has been out today and she has put a pump on that gives him anti sickness and a pump on that gives him morphine to help him feel better.
“I’m hoping he feels a little better once that’s in his system.
“Thank you for your continued support.”
Earlier this month, Bradley’s family revealed he was “super excited” to be heading to Scarborough on holiday.
This trip to the seaside was an opportunity to make memories with his loved ones in the final few weeks of his young life.
The family has been forced to cancel holidays in the past because of Bradley’s illness.
Mum Gemma again shared news of their seaside break on her youngest son’s Facebook page, Bradley Lowery’s fight against neuroblastoma.
“Well after booking up and having to cancel several holidays the day has come where we are going away to Scarborough for a break,” she wrote.
“Bradley is super excited and is feeling good in himself when he is awake.
“We not sure if we will get to stop the full week yet but we will just take each day as it comes.”
The post was signed it off with the hash tags #makingmemories #bradley’smile #alwaysbegrateful
At the start of June, it was revealed that Bradley’s tumours had grown “really fast”.
Gemma has previously said of the diagnosis: “Nobody expects it. Our whole world was turned upside down, it was heartbreaking.
“Our normal changed to a different normal, to dealing with a very poorly child who was fighting for his life.”
Last month the family announced that Bradley didn’t have long left to live.
A statement said: “He is going for radio therapy at the end of this week and next week but this is to control the pain in the hope we get him comfortable.
“Lots of people keep asking how long has he got to live? I can’t answer this as we don’t know all we know is it’s not long.”
Bradley has formed an incredible friendship with England and Everton football player Jermain Defoe.
They first met last September when Sunderland superfan Bradley was mascot at a match at home between them and Everton.
The little lad told the Sunderland Echo afterwards: “This has been amazing. I got to meet Jermain Defoe, who’s my favourite, and everyone said my name.”
The footballer has kept in touch with Bradley since and recently appeared on Lorraine to talk about their special bond.