A heartbroken mum will get a tattoo of her beloved little boy’s final words to her before he lost his brave battle with incurable brain cancer.
Sammy Scully, 9, died at his Adelaide home on Tuesday morning surrounded by his family after a two year fight with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
Nicknamed Sergeant Sammy due to his dreams of becoming a cop, his death sparked an outpouring of tributes led by South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, Premier Peter Malinauskas and pop star Guy Sebastian.
Alison Harrison had a ritual with her son where when she said ‘I love you’ he would reply: ‘I love you too mummy’.
Their bond was so strong that Sammy told his mum he would marry her if he could because he loved her so much.
He passed away peacefully in the place he felt the safest and loved most – her bed.
‘We would grab each other’s little pinky fingers and say, together: ‘together, forever, always’,’ Ms Harrison told The Advertiser.
Those three words were the last Sammy said to his mum.
Alison Harrison (left) will get a tattoo of her son Sammy’s final words to her
Sammy Scully, 9, died at his Adelaide home on Tuesday after a brave fight with brain cancer
Sammy (pictured) was called Sergeant Sammy Scully because he wanted to be a police officer
‘(They) will be my next tattoo. We have a bond that can never be broken,’ Ms Harrison said.
She described her son as a ray of light who was also cheeky, funny and resilient.
‘No matter who he was talking to, it could be the King of England or the Premier or the homeless person … he did not change who he was, she said.
‘He had a way of touching people and reaching them, where they would open up to him and speak to him like a little man, a human, not just a little boy.’
Doctors warned that Sammy had just 12 months to live when he was diagnosed with DIPG in January 2023.
He had an inoperable brain tumour the size of a peach which later spread to his spine.
Sammy’s dream of joining the police force resulted in him being appointed an honourable sergeant last before Commissioner Grant Stevens promoted him to senior officer in January.
Officers took Sammy on joyrides in the police helicopter and boat. He also met the police horses and dogs.
The bond between Sammy and his mother was so strong, he told his mum he would marry her if he could because he loved her so much. Sammy and Alison are pictured
Sammy’s dream of becoming a police officer led to him being made an honourable Sergeant of the South Australia Police in May 2024
‘We also knew he wanted to ‘blow s*** up’ so we made that happen with our bomb response section,’ Commissioner Stevens recalled in a heartwarming video tribute on Wednesday.
‘It is with great sadness that I on behalf of all South Australia Police extend our condolences to his mum Alison, sisters Erin and Abigail and dad Sean as well as all his friends at Angle Vale Primary School.’
Premier Malinauskas said Sammy had touched people’s hearts.
‘We saw an outpouring of generosity to Sam and his family through the work of a lot of people,’ he said.
‘Sammy demonstrated the power of hope and he will be remembered for it.’
Pop star Guy Sebastian added: ‘I was personally arrested by Sergeant Sammy — he was very forceful but it was such a joyful day.’
Sammy got to lock up some high profile ‘criminals’, including AFL and cricket stars
The family have vowed that Sammy’s death won’t be in vain and have donated his brain to medical research.
Family friends have reopened the GoFundMe to help with funeral arrangements, and ongoing living expenses to help support for the family as they begin to navigate life without Sammy.
‘Sammy brought light to everyone who knew him, and his courage throughout everything has been nothing short of extraordinary. He was such a special little boy,’ the latest update states.
‘Please continue to hold his loved ones in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.’
