It’s two and a half years since Oscar’s dad, Stephen ‘Knoxy’ shared the news he’d just received that his three-year-old son had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an apparently rare form of childhood cancer. All the pains and fears of that day, and the years since, came to the fore over the last eight weeks as the disease took hold. Oscar’s battle ended yesterday.
On this day we should acknowledge the enormous work by so many people to get Oscar the treatment he needed, many of whom would never meet him. The treatment cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, a daunting figure, but one which was soon met. Without this fundraising, Oscar would have died in 2012. Instead, he lived, played and inspired many with his enthusiasm until recent weeks. His fantastic “Happy Birthday CQN” video message was recorded just two months ago; a gift to this community.
For now, there are no meaningful words for Stephen, Oscar’s mum Leona, sister Izzie and their family and friends, but we will be there for them in the months and years to come.
This disease, in all its forms, is a curse on humanity. We need more fundraising, more research, more education on its dangers.
Before Sunday’s game against Dundee United you will be able to buy a Celtic FC Foundation badge, to aid work with homelessness in the Glasgow area. Badges cost a minimum donation of £1, a price we can all afford to help our neighbours in most need.
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Moonbeams WD. Rooting for Wee Oscar. Voting ‘YES’ on the 18th of September. Kano’s yer man.
18:57 on 9 May, 2014
For young Daniel
You are a credit to your father and much fitter than him as well :-)
I also remember the day at Andy’s well and Wee Oscar running round pouring water over everybody :-)
He had of course had an exemption from getting into trouble that day and deservedly so.
HH
CRC
The picture of Oscar hugging Hoopy at CP from the start of the season will stay with me for a long time.
Thoughts with his family at this time.
R.I.P. Oscar
Just my thoughts
I’m thinking we were all touched by that wee angel …. His bravery and spirit taught us so much … He brought the best out in so many of us
God bless you wee fella …. And thank you for being in all our lives for a short but very significant time
TBJ
Oscar must be appropriately remembered and never forgotten.
Collectively we need to understand how best to achieve those goals.
God Bless our wee hero.
Hail Caesar!
Tremendous tribute to Wee Oscar from the Greatest Living Celt.
Such sad news about Wee Oscar – I think I was introduced to CQN about the same time the blog was introduced to this remarkable young man – such an inspiration throughout – RIP Oscar…..
He gives us the strength to live each minute and appreciate what we have.
RIP Oscar
EDB
A campaign to make any government of this country support the fight against neuroblastoma would be a fitting tribute to the wee warrior
For what its worth my heartfelt condolences to the Knox family. I hope they find some comfort in the immense amount of good their wee angel inspired others to do. He managed more of that in a few short years than most of us will ever achieve in three score and ten.
Hail hail Wee Oscar.
A fitting picture
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=640997375984202&set=pcb.640999835983956&type=1&theater
It’s my birthday today, but inconsequential given the sad news today, but in this time of tears we should celebrate the joy and lust for life that oscar brought to everybody, regardless of belief or divide, I believe we should celebrate his love and joy for all. This is for you oscars, tears in my eyes but happy you were a part in my life. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bN8XZZgPyHc
Goodnight Timland.
A very sad day,reading back some wonderful
tributes to our wee hero…won’t make the day-oot
the morra,family commitments,I keep my posts short
and sweet due to the fact I’m a thicko…..cqn has excelled
today,proud to be part of it……God bless Oscars nearest
and dearest,nae worries about the wee man,he’s in the arms
of the angels.
To wee Oscar,
Like many others Oscar I only knew you from afar. But what an inspiration you were and still are.
Through your child’s eye, you shared your unconditional love of your family and friends and the simple pleasures of being a child.
You endured great pain and inspired many of us, and showed great courage in your fight to stay with us a little longer.
You’re now at peace, looking down on us, but most of all at Mummy, Daddy and sister Izzie, smiling and laughing and playing.
All your pain is gone now, God bless you.
Dan
and another
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=640997182650888&set=a.213021995448411.53630.213010492116228&type=1&theater
God bless you Oscar and your wonderful family, I never met you but like many people all around the world you touched us all with your strength and your character.
YNWA
God bless oscar and his family at this time – a simply remarkable wee guy who touched so many lives.
This wee boy inspired me (and so many others) at the age of 52 to get on a bike and cycle to Belfast from Glasgow supported by so many on here who also completed this task and helped us along the way
I was really touched by MWD ‘a post earlier – on the second day of the cycle leaving girvan the weather worsened and at one point I just stopped and just looked in complete admiration as Danny and his young son Daniel (12) simply carried on cycling with others through the falling snow up the six mile long ballantrae hill to help a lovely wee guy who was sick and hurting many miles away it said so much to me about what the Celtic family is and will continue to be – my thoughts and that if my wife’s too who shed a tear or two today on hearing the news are with oscar and his family – hh and god bless
celticrollercoaster luvs his luminious lime boots
19:42 on 9 May, 2014
Some cracking pics.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Hi Masty…
Sorry for delay in reply…Mike told me about your post….
Nurse Ratched was giving me a bed bath….:0)…
I’m good thanks…hope you are too mate…
Been writing another book…( half way through it)…this will be number 5.
Sean’s my biggest fan…after I taught him to read…:0)…
Take care son,
God Bless
HH
Albie.
Celticrollercoaster luvs his luminious lime boots
19:39 on 9 May, 2014
__________________
My God!
That, is so sad.
Dear, dear, dear.
Its very seldom I post these days but, had to come on and offer my condolences to Oscars family,there are no words I can say that could alleviate their grief,perhaps,they can take some comfort in knowing that they do not walk alone,god bless Oscar Knox.
I’ve cried lots today even although I’ve never met Oscar Knox but like many people his life has touched mine.
In his short life he united a broad spectrum of people and raised awareness that should result in a better longer life for other children. His story puts our personal problems into perspective. He was an inspiration and much loved in The Celtic family.
His legacy will be far-reaching and long-lasting. Hail! Hail! Oscar.
I read that the Knox’s family has asked for no funeral flowers, instead donate the price of a bunch to Children’s Hospice here: http://www.justgiving.com/oscarknox/eurl.axd/2920dc2c31772d478b4570f52e96abb3
You’ll Never Walk Alone Oscar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNNMTigZ41s
Good Evening.
There have been some lovely thoughts and sentiments posted on here today — too many to mention or comment on in detail.
They say that only then good die young. It is an often used phrase, but I wonder how many of us actually stop and think about it.
Kiddos like Oscar — Kiddos that leave us early — do so having never developed the cynicism or greed of an adult. They are pure in nearly every way: Innocents. Untouched by the nastier areas of the world we bring them into.
Some folk believe in Heaven — which might be a place, possibly a state of mind, a type of peace, or a general feeling of happiness.
Kids who leave this world early go straight to that place. They do not need to pass go or collect £200 to get there or anything else– they just get there automatically.
I made a post earlier on today and I received a few messages about it one of which suggested I post it again for others to read.
So, if you haven’t read it, you will find it below — slightly updated and with a typo or two corrected.
However, before moving on, let me leave you with a thought which will hopefully bring a smile on an otherwise sad night.
Many will remember the image of Oscar running on to the park and into the arms of Hoopy the Hound.
Well, a very wise man once told me in a quiet moment that he knew a secret. He had suffered a huge heart attack earlier in his life and at one point he had been clinically dead but was ultimately resuscitated due to the skill of the medical staff. However, he was away for a long time before the machine started beeping again.
He used to joke ” Hey- don’t knock death till you have tried it! Remember, I am the only one hear who has been there and back”.
As for the secret?
Well the same man told me his secret and I am now about to tell it to you — and as I do– and as you read this — I want you all to remember the image of Oscar and Hoopy.
The secret was this:
Everyone in heaven is 5 years old — and everyone has their own dog!
BRTH
———————————————————————————————————
Monbeams
Danny well said earlier and thanks for reposting that comment about why raising the money for Oscar was not a waste of time.
The very first time I ever addressed a gathering of CQN’ers was in connection with Vanessa — and of course at that point Oscar had not been diagnosed with the disease.
I had not intended saying anything at all at that quiz night, and was very conscious that nearly everyone in the room did not know me from Adam yet here I was asking for money for a wee girl that I did not know and sure as hell everyone out there didn’t know.
Whatsmore — £500,000 is a huge sum to try and raise and like the guy in your post I was only too well aware that the money might be for nothing as the chances on Vanessa surviving even with the treatment were slim– very very slim. So slim that I felt that I just had to point out that even if we raised the money ( which was extremely doubtful to be honest ) it might make no difference to her in the long terms as the likelihood was that Vanessa would not recover.
However, raise the money we did, and thankfully Vanessa Riddle is alive and well today.
However, even if she weren’t I would not have viewed the exercise as a waste of time.
Since then, I have ( along with many many others ) attempted to raise money for other children with this dreaded disease.
Recently, Alfie Sharpe from Kilmarnock passed away just like Oscar.
I recall getting the news that Niamh Curry had died in the night and I will not hide the fact that I cried buckets — cried really hard — sore hard— spontaneously inconsolably hard — on my own and away from my own family.
Mackenzie Furness has just undergone successful stage 1 treatment in Germany though.
However, I have never thought for one second that doing something for these kids and their families was a waste of time– even knowing the odds are stacked against them.
For a start, in relation to other things, I have been told that when someone reads a kind word online or a message of support or something that shows that some unknown clown out there is on your side — then it gives you a lift– maybe a much needed lift.
When I first heard about Vanessa and Neuroblastoma I imagined she was my child:
Your daughter has a violent cancer ( thinks how you feel getting that news )
We can treat her ( Thanks be to god – just pray if you believe )
The cancer has gone ( Thank the lord and jump for joy )
After a time — The cancer is back ( Jesus God — NO! )
There is a treatment– but we can’t give it to her on the NHS ( What? How? Why? )
But she can be treated ( spirits soar and hopes are raised )
— but you need to raise £500k
( Sorry? What? Why? I have nothing like that money.
Where will I ever get £500K? Spirits plummet like a falling elevator )
But there are people out there who can help you raise such a sum
( looks of incredulity and disbelief from parents who are by now just numb )
It is dead easy typing those words — but I imagine living through that roller coaster of emotions, putting your head on the pillow at night, is virtually impossible!
And then along come a shower of clowns in green and white shirts who say:
” Hey- Mr & Mrs so and so — never met you, dunno who you are or what you do, but we are here with you and your kid. We will raise the money, or we will try to do what we can and we will have a bloody good time doing it. We don’t know what the future holds and we can make no promises, but we will raise more than money — we will raise spirits, hope, and maybe some prayers– and at the same time we can highlight that this disease is not as “rare” as some would have us think and that the drug companies and government need to come to the table.”
Of course it is not just Celtic fans who do this — but Celtic fans now have a reputation for stepping up to the plate and delivering what was once thought of as improbable.
With Mackenzie the publicity got such that the Scottish Government met half her costs.
It is not perfect but it is a start.
I posted the other day that there is an ICT fan ( Stevie Taylor ) who cycles all around the country now raising money for the fight against Neuroblastoma. He was inspired to get on the saddle because of the campaigns for Oscar, Vanessa and Mackenzie.
He sent me a message the other day which said that he will always be an ICT fan but that ” True charity begins at Celtic Park”.
I will post a link to his exploits later.
I am terribly sad at Oscar’s passing. I had a long chat with Leona and Stephen at CQ10 and a longer one the day after. Stephen’s cousin also has the disease and the prognosis is not good.
But for me, Oscar’s passing just renews the desire to fight, the desire to change things, the desire to find a way where families do not have to go through the roller coaster of emotions when they find that their child has this horrible disease.
No fight is ever a waste of time. It will take people far cleverer than me to find a cure for this disease and I have no real influence over where governments spend hard pressed NHS funds or which diseases or what citizens take priority.
No – I am just a bozo with a key board and a pair of cowboy boots. An internet clown with a green and white shirt, who looks at his own four healthy kids and counts his blessings — and will count them even more after today.
BUT
Through the campaigns for Vanessa, Oscar, Mackenzie, Niamh, Alfie and maybe the odd other I am an internet clown who walks a wee bit taller, smiles a wee bit broader, and holds his head a wee bit higher because in my own small way I might just make a wee difference to someone — and in so doing I make a big difference to me — inside and out.
So today is sad, but it also reaffirms in me that no campaign will ever be a waste of time. Oscar knew he was loved by so many and more importantly Stevie and Leona Knox knew they did not have to face their darkest hours alone. While we will never replace immediate family– we are a family– a family that cares — a football family like no other perhaps.
We, individually and collectively, may have given a lot for Oscar Knox and those other kids — but no matter how much we gave, it pales in comparison to what they have given to us as individuals and as a collective.
We are the better for knowing Oscar, Stephen, Leona, Izzie and all the other families. We are richer — richer than any cheque bearing any figure with any number of zeros on the end and that is a fact.
So let nobody ever say that the fight was in vain or was a waste of time.
That thinking is not for me and me and the boots walk taller today than I did yesterday.
Big Nan
You are spot on — wars and weapons get funded — kids don’t.
Meanwhile the Astra Zeneca circus gets played out before our very eyes.
I hang my head in shame sometimes.
God bless wee Oscar.
Rest in peace wee man.
My condolences to his family.
Sorry,
I should have added that if you get the chance please read this remarkable blog or at least the start of it.
It is the tale of what one guy ( Steve Taylor from Stewarton who supports Caley Thistle ) does for Oscar, Vanessa, Nackenzie and others and how he does so with Celtic Football Club and its fans in his heart.
http://lifecycleforneuroblastoma.com/
ryecatcher @ 18:34
Rest in Peace Oscar Knox……… Hope Eva sings this to you up there.
Over the rainbow – Eva’s rendition of this timeless classic is second to none.
Was doing kinda o.k. until I listened to this …
Both shining lights taken from us tragically young through the unforgiving scourge of cancer. Single tear rolling down my cheek as I type …
Would like to add my thanks to the many fine people over on follow follow who have taken the time to offer support to the Knox family,I’m sure the gesture is very much appreciated.
BRTH. Apart from making me cry again your post at 19.57 is truly inspirational.
Well said BRTH.
Also, any party that supports wars above children need to be named and shamed. Enough is enough.
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/oscar-knox-the-love-you-leave-behind/
Words fail me Rest in Peace brave Oscar and may God grant your remarkable family strength at this horrendous time HH
HamiltonTim, I think this is the foto you were talking about earlier.
http://twitpic.com/e3df2f
I’m not sure what if anything can console a parent after losing a child. If there is any comfort to be had, it must surely be that wee Oscar has been and will continue to be an inspiration for many thousands of people.
Our Lady Queen of Ireland watch over him. RIP Oscar
Apologise if this has already been suggested. Maybe this year Celtic Fc could use the subscription fee for the young hoops club as a donation to a charity of choice of the family of wee Oscar. That way all his wee fella hoops including my own little boy can pay tribute to their wee friend and fellow young hoop..
St Joesph looked after the wee man…
No words, just no words. Rip wee warrior. Sad beyond belief.
Hail hail wee mhan.
rest in peace little man
what an inspiration for us all
God bless you Oscar, rest in peace champ.
Dredful news. Rest in Peace wee hero. God give strengh to Knox family.
I will be in Rome next week,there will be a very special candle lit for Wee Oscar ,and all his family
RIP