The four-year-old British girl, who was the subject of a viral black and white photo showing her emotions as she underwent processes in an attempt to battle cancer, has passed away. The little girl's family announced the heartbreaking statement on Facebook.
The four-year-old girl was identified as Jessica Whelan of Clayton-le-Moors, England. Her father, Andy Whelan, said on the Facebook page set up for Jessica that she passed away at 7 a.m. on Nov. 20 and that he felt both sadness and relief that his daughter has found peace.
Andy said that Jessica will no longer suffer or feel the pain of the physical constraints of her body. Andy added, "My princess has grown her angel wings and has gone up to play with her friends and loved ones. She will now watch down over her little brother and ourselves until one day we are reunited again," Fox News reported.
Jessica was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer found in the small glands on top of the kidneys affecting mostly children five years old and below, in September 2015. More than 100,000 people have joined the Facebook group for Jessica but the black and white photo that her father captured was what made her fight viral.
The viral photo was uploaded on Oct. 29 on the Facebook page for Jessica and Andy, a photographer, was the one who took the snap. He shared a lengthy caption alongside the snap saying that it is important to capture the truth and the reality of a situation and that it is too easy to capture the joy of life but the torture that people have to see is discarded, CNN reported.
He pointed out that capturing the emotions of his daughter was the most difficult snap he ever made. Andy noted that a few days ago, Jessica was given a few weeks to live and that the photo was taken when she would push away her family as she was in pain. He also said that the photo is a sight they often see and is the true face of cancer.
In the black and white snap, Jessica's blood vessels are protruding and her tears are running down her cheek. Her body is also stiffened due to the pain she is feeling. Andy said that he uploaded the photo in hopes of making people aware of the darkness of childhood cancer and maybe someone could do something so that no other child has to suffer.
He concluded his caption by saying, "Please I beg of you, as a heartbroken father, it is too late for my daughter, but childhood cancer needs to be cured. No family should have to go through this hell."
