The eight-year-old son of former NYPD Lieutenant Colonel Eric Dimm has passed away after touching many through his courageous fight against brain tumors.
“Derek gave it everything he had,” his devastated father shared. “This cancer is a monster.”
A fan of Minecraft, swimming, and the arts, Derek died peacefully on May 1st, following a 14-month battle with DMG glioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects about 300 children annually in the U.S.
“I always thought if anyone could beat it, it would be Derek,” said Dim, a former Marine and New York City co-host. Police podcast.
The young boy’s inspiring struggle—”He never complained,” Dim remarked—led to an outpouring of support, with a gofundme campaign raising nearly $600,000 to assist families facing similar battles.
The cancer started with a headache, surprising the family while they were in Bali. Dim, his wife Louisa, Derek, and their daughter Ellie (3 years old) had sold their home to embark on a journey across Asia.
In a hurry, Dim rushed to Los Angeles, where the nearest children’s hospital was located.
While living in the RV, Derek underwent radiation and oral chemotherapy, but unfortunately, surgery wasn’t an option due to the tumor’s location.
The family also sought expensive alternative treatments, including acoustic therapies designed to destroy cancer cells. Yet, despite their efforts, Derek’s health continued to decline.
Derek entered hospice care on March 5th, where police officers from Laguna Beach assisted the family to their apartment for comfort.
“We faced two realities: one knowing there was no cure, and the other hoping for a miracle,” Dim explained.
On Easter Sunday, Derek slipped into a “deep sleep,” his father recounted.
Meanwhile, Ellie kept asking, “When will he play? When will he talk? When will he walk again?” Dim said.
Sadly, Derek didn’t wake up. “We told her that Derek went to be with God, and she said she wanted to go too,” Dim noted.
“I will always remember you as my hero,” Dim expressed to his son. x. “I’ll hold onto the good memories until we meet again.”
