Thousands mourn death of US boy who wanted to be famous in China

Dorian Murray and his family on Facebook. [Photo/Asianewsphoto.com]

He captured the hearts of people in the country that he wanted to be famous in, China, and many there and around the globe on Wednesday expressed their sadness that 8-year-old Dorian Murray had succumbed to long battle against terminal cancer.

Dorian, of Westerly, Rhode Island, was diagnosed with a rare and untreatable form of pediatric cancer when he was 4. After cancer cells spread to his spine and brain a few months ago, he and his family decided to stop his chemotherapy treatment so he could enjoy the time he had left.

His death was announced late Tuesday night on the Praying for Dorian Facebook page, which had documented his struggle with cancer with the hashtag "#dstrong".

"I'm not ready," his mother Melissa Murray posted on Tuesday morning before he died. "But, I never will be."

Kathryn Thomas, a close friend of the Murray family posted the announcement on Facebook just after 11 pm. "It is with a very heavy heart that I share this news. Dorian J. Murray (#DStrong) has gained his beautiful angel wings tonight and is now pain free. He was surrounded by people who love him and his transition to heaven was very peaceful. He was embraced by both mom and dad."

Thomas wrote that the family is asking for "privacy and respect" as they grieve.

Dorian had told his father he wanted to be famous in China before he went to heaven. "Because they have that bridge," Dorian said, meaning the Great Wall. In early January 2016, his mother posted the wish on Dorian's Facebook page, looking for someone in China to send a picture to Dorian with the #D-Strong sign.

China Daily staff hold signs with the words "#D-Strong" at their Beijing headquarters in support of Dorian, Jan 13, 2016. [Photo/China Daily]

The boy's wish spread in China and across the globe. Tens of thousands of Chinese posted the story on Chinese social media, and many went to the Great Wall holding signs saying, "You are very famous in China".

On a recent day, a woman was still sharing photos on China's Weibo online site of herself on the Great Wall holding a sign: "Dorian STRONG. You are famous in here. Welcome to China!"

"Though it's been two months since he had the dream, I'm here. I'm at the top of the Great Wall to make his dream come true," she wrote.

Thousands reacted to the posting of his death.

"Tonight I shed tears for a boy I didn't even know, yet I'll never forget," wrote Jessica Tulli on Facebook. "Thanks Dorian, Chris, and Melissa, you have all showed the world what really matters."

"We are thankful for your life and the strength you brought to us. You earned everyone's respect. Wish you have a long and beautiful dream, so long and beautiful that you don't want to wake up," a woman posted on Weibo.

In the past two months, Dorian and his family had also received invitations to travel to China, but declined due to his health.

The Dorian J. Murray Foundation was set up by the family as Dorian legacy, "keeping his name and the #dstrong movement alive forever." The fund's mission is to bring a level of awareness to pediatric cancer and support the families of diagnosed children.

hezijiang@chinadailyusa.com