On Sunday, boxer Omar Henry, 25, posted this on his Facebook page:
“To all my friends and loyal fans I want to inform you all that I am fighting the fight of my life against a disease known as gallbladder cancer. While l’m in this current state I am fighting with my family by my side and I will not go down for the count. I am a champion who has chosen to fight not just for myself but for those who’s faith is believing in what u cant see, and i will continue to fight!!!!! and fight!!!!!and fight!!!!! till I knock this sickness out. Your love and support mean the most to me, your prayers are prayers not only to me but to others like me. Please be advised l am grateful for any and all support in any kind of way please inbox me. My family has continued to be by my side, and its hard for them as well. I want to thank God for unconditional love and unconditional fans.”
Friday, Henry lost the fight in a Chicago hospital. He was considered a strong prospect at 12-0-1 in his young boxing career. But the disease came on fast and never let up. A Nov. 16 scheduled bout on Showtime was canceled. A few days before, he was diagnosed with stage 4 gall-bladder cancer.
He posted a series of heartrending messages on his Facebook fan page in which he pleaded for prayers and support. On Jan. 9, his post was particularly moving:
“I got exactly less than 1 month left until my 26th birthday February 8. Hopefully I live to see it. I really have been getting a lot of support with kind words and prayers from all over the world with this battle with cancer. Thank you and I will continue to fight for us!!!!”
After the diagnosis, Henry conducted a series of interviews with reporters from boxing websites. He said to FightHype.com on Dec. 12: “As of right now, I got a lot of mixed feelings. Overall, I feel blessed. I’m living right now, but I’ve been taking it one day at a time because it makes my head hurt and body ache thinking too far ahead.”
He also said to the website: “I will find out tomorrow if I’m free of cancer or if I won’t be here to see 2013. That’s what they told me. Life and death has never come so close, especially since I was so close to the top and being close to the top of my career. I was about to headline Showtime at 25 years old, in the prime of my career. Now, I could literally be dead tomorrow, and this is the scariest thing I can think of. God has a purpose and we can’t question God.”
