MAC Sinise, the son of Forrest Gump and CSI: NY star Gary Sinise, has died at the age of 33 after a battle with a rare cancer.
On Tuesday, Gary revealed the heartbreaking news in a post shared on the Gary Sinise Foundation’s website.
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The 68-year-old actor revealed that his son died on January 5 following a years-long battle with the rare spinal cancer, Chordoma.
Mac, whose full name was McCanna, worked with the Gary Sinise Foundation and supported his father’s Lt. Dan Band on drums until repeated spinal surgeries and the advancement of his cancer forced him to step away.
In the touching tribute, Gary spoke about the twin tragedies his family suffered in the summer of 2018 – when his wife Moira was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in June only two months before Mac received his chordoma diagnosis in August.
Thankfully, Moira’s cancer into remission after successful surgery to remove lymph nodes, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Mac was unfortunately overcome by the disease.
In regards to Mac’s work with the foundation, Gary stated, “Mac joined the team at Gary Sinise Foundation as our Assistant Manager of Education & Outreach.
“I was thrilled and excited to have him come on board to help me with the mission.”
He continued, “I was always happy to have him join me on the road, and I could see how much joy and pride he shared in our mission.
“Especially when he could be hands-on with those we serve, like at our Soaring Valor events honoring our nation’s WWII heroes, and our Invincible Spirit Festivals, where we bring the Lt. Dan Band to uplift our wounded at military hospitals across the country.”
He spoke about Mac’s skill as a musician and revealed that his son played drums since he was nine years old and “was an exceptional drummer.”
Gary sweetly added that he and Mac playing together in the Lt. Dan Band were “great times,” as he reminisced, “father and son rockin’ out together for the troops.”
The actor spoke about the rarity of Mac’s cancer, revealing that Chordoma is a “one in a million” type cancer that originates in the sprint and “affects, on average, only 300 people in the U.S. per year.”
Gary spoke about how after numerous spinal surgeries, Mac was still eager to contribute to the Foundation while in recovery at home.
In January 2020, a day before his 4th spinal surgery, Mac showed his fortitude when despite what he was going through medically he joined Gary for a GSF podcast interview.
The interview would complete Mac’s work with the Gary Sinise Foundation as he had to step away to focus on his recovery and rehab full-time.
After battling the disease for years, Mac was laid to rest on January 23.
Gary wrote, “Like any family experiencing such a loss, we are heartbroken and have been managing as best we can.
“As parents, it is so difficult losing a child. My heart goes out to all who have suffered a similar loss, and to anyone who has lost a loved one.
He continued, “We’ve all experienced it in some way. Over the years I have met so many families of our fallen heroes. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s just damn hard.
“While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it. He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying.”
Gary added, “I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad.”
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