An Australian father-to-be who tragically died of brain cancer before having the chance to meet his unborn daughter left a series of powerful videos and notes for her.
Scott Ferguson, from Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia, was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in 2018, after collapsing in a shopping centre.
He married his partner Jaymie in 2019, and she fell pregnant in 2020.
Ferguson sadly passed away due to his illness weeks before his daughter was born on April 27th.
In a post of her newborn daughter Isla on Instagram, Jaymie described the experience as one of “the happiest and saddest moments of my entire life”.
“Fergs and I are so overjoyed to welcome to the world our miracle baby and my saviour Isla Scott Ferguson born on the 27th of April weighing an adorable 2.65kg”.
“I’m sure Fergs was with me the entire time and our baby girl is already a mirror image of her incredible dad. I am so in love”.
Ferguson left messages of affection and advice for his daughter before his death.
In one video he said he was “fighting hard so that I can be here to meet you”.
He said, “Just know I never gave up”.
He also wrote a book for his daughter in which he told her:
“We will always be proud of you no matter what you do”.
“As long as you smile once every day, everything is going to be OK”.
“When you get married, just know that I will be watching and walking you down the aisle”.
“Grow up dreaming. Follow your dreams, you don’t have to live like everyone else”, another message said.
A GoFundMe set up to raise money for Jaymie has raised more than $30,000.
The couple’s close friend Scott Schmidt who is now running the page said: “Fergs has big dreams for his family and we want to help make sure that Jaymie and their daughter get to achieve all of these”.
“Fergs and Jaymie have faced every challenge with such bravery and courage and together they have fought hard by outliving five life expectancies given to him by doctors”.
“Since being diagnosed he had undergone 2 brain surgeries (1 awake), 56 sessions of radiation, 10 months of chemo, 27 sessions of targeted therapy and 35+ seizures”.
“During that time Fergs achieved a lot of things including building their home, a proposal to the love of his life Jaymie, getting back on motorbike, getting married in 2019, a honeymoon and the upcoming arrival of Fergs baby girl”.
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right to Life UK, said: “One cannot fail to be moved by this story. Our society could learn a lot not only from this father’s fighting spirit against a terminal illness, but his selfless dedication to his wife and their unborn child. We wish Jaymie and Isla the best in their lives after such a heartbreaking loss, and encourage anyone able to donate to their appeal”.
