DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘Hero’ 8-year-old son of retired NYPD officer succumbs to rare brain cancer

May 3, 2025
in News
‘Hero’ 8-year-old son of retired NYPD officer succumbs to rare brain cancer
496
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The 8-year old son of retired NYPD Lt. Eric Dym has died after touching the hearts of those who learned of his courageous battle against brain cancer.

“Derek fought so hard,” his broken-hearted dad told The Post. “This cancer is just a monster.”

The boy, who loved Minecraft, swimming, and art, died peacefully on May 1 — 14 months after being diagnosed with DMG Glioma, an aggressive cancer which strikes about 300 children a year in the US.

Derek Dym, the 8-year-old son of retired NYPD Lt. Eric Dym, has died after a 14-month battled with brain cancer.
Derek Dym, the 8-year-old son of retired NYPD Lt. Eric Dym, has died after a 14-month battle with brain cancer. Gofundme

“We always thought if anybody could beat it, it would be Derek,” said Dym, an ex-Marine and co-host of a New York City-based podcast on policing. 

The youngster’s brave struggle — “he never complained,” Dym said — sparked an overwhelming response. A GoFundMe campaign raised nearly $600,000 to help the family pay expenses.

The cancer started with headaches, striking while Dym, his wife Luiza, Derek and daughter Ellie, 3, were living in Bali after selling their home to travel through Asia on the adventure of a lifetime.

Leaving everything behind, the Dyms rushed to LA, the closest US city with a children’s hospital. 

Eric Dym, his wife Luiza, Derek, 8, and Ellie, 3, lived in an RV near Children's Hospital Los Angeles during the boy's treatment.
Eric Dym, wife Luiza, son Derek, 8, and daughter Ellie, 3, lived in an RV near Children’s Hospital Los Angeles during the boy’s treatment. Courtesy of Eric Dym

While they stayed in an RV, Derek underwent radiation and oral chemotherapy for the tumor, which could not be surgically removed because of its location in the brain.

On their own, the Dyms also purchased costly alternative treatments such as a sound-therapy machine and a device using low-frequency electric fields aimed at destroying cancer cells. 

But Derek’s condition steadily worsened. 

NYPD Lt. Eric Dym in Times Square, shortly before he retired in 2022, with son Derek and daughter Ellie.
NYPD Lt. Eric Dym in Times Square, shortly before he retired in 2022, with son Derek and daughter Ellie.
Courtesy of Eric Dym

He entered hospice on March 5, and Laguna Beach police officers escorted the family to an apartment where Derek could get comfort care at home.

“We were fighting two parallels. For one, we knew it wasn’t curable. And the other was that doctors aren’t God, and we were hoping for a miracle, so we weren’t going to give up.”

Derek fell into “a deep sleep” on Easter Sunday, Dym said.

Friends of the Dym family created this tribute to Derek after he passed away May 1.
Friends of the Dym family created this tribute to Derek after he passed away. Credit Courtesy Eric Dym

Little sister Ellie kept asking, “When’s he going to play? When’s he going to start talking? When’s he going to walk again?” Dym said.

Derek did not wake up. “We told her that Derek went to live with God, and she said she wants to go live with God, too.”

“I’ll always remember YOU as my hero,” Dym said of his son on X. “Until we meet again, I will only have good memories.”

The post ‘Hero’ 8-year-old son of retired NYPD officer succumbs to rare brain cancer appeared first on New York Post.

Tags: brain tumorCancerexperimental drugsgofundmeNYPDpolice officers
Share198Tweet124Share
Iran executes 3 more prisoners it accused of spying for Israel
News

Iran executes 3 more prisoners it accused of spying for Israel

by Associated Press
June 25, 2025

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran executed three more prisoners Wednesday over allegedly spying for Israel, its state-run IRNA ...

Read more
Business

Asian shares gain as investors shift focus to Federal Reserve, tariffs

June 25, 2025
News

Dr. Martens Taps NÒMARHYTHM TEXTILE for Floral Footwear Collaboration

June 25, 2025
Arts

‘Queer Lens’ is the provocative photography show only the Getty would be brave enough to stage

June 25, 2025
Business

Kroger, the company behind Ralphs and Food 4 Less, plans to close 60 locations

June 25, 2025
Emma Raducanu praises Wimbledon for ‘amazing job’ of blocking stalker from competition

Emma Raducanu praises Wimbledon for ‘amazing job’ of blocking stalker from competition

June 25, 2025
Volunteers use the universal language of music to soothe stressed shelter animals

Volunteers use the universal language of music to soothe stressed shelter animals

June 25, 2025
All 8 victims of Lake Tahoe boating accident identified

All 8 victims of Lake Tahoe boating accident identified

June 25, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.