Hastings boy Denny, 7, dies after years battling leukaemia: family pays tribute

Inspirational seven-year-old Denny Nassy has died following a four-and-a-half year battle with leukaemia.
Denny NassyDenny Nassy
Denny Nassy

His family said he died in hospital at 2pm on Monday (September 7).

Paying tribute, Denny’s aunt Michele Laurens said: “Denny had more battles in his short little life than any of us could even imagine.

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“He held onto his last breath for days despite Thursday being told we had 24 hours to say our goodbyes.

Denny Nassy. Picture courtesy of Michele Laurens SUS-190910-120316001Denny Nassy. Picture courtesy of Michele Laurens SUS-190910-120316001
Denny Nassy. Picture courtesy of Michele Laurens SUS-190910-120316001

“He fought and fought it until his last breath was stolen away from him.

“In the end we had to beg him to let go and he still wouldn’t. He loved his mum and dad and family so much he would never leave any of us.

“I know he’s with us all still, I know he would never go away from us, he couldn’t and he wouldn’t.

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Denny, who was born in November 2012, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in January 2016.

He was treated with chemotherapy and went into remission, but relapsed in 2018, the same week as his younger sister Marley was diagnosed with leukaemia too.

Both underwent chemotherapy before Denny required a marrow transplant. Marley went into remission.

The Nassy family set up a campaign, with the aim of raising £500,000 so Denny could got to the USA for the treatment he needed, called CAR-T therapy.

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The campaign inspired people across Hastings and further afield to raise money for the campaign.

As testament to Denny’s popularity, the £500,000 target was reached. However, in April, the family’s plans were crushed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Michele said Denny’s condition deteriorated in the past couple of weeks, making treatment impossible.

She added: “The last couple of weeks of his life, he was crippled in pain all over with cancer, had fungal pneumonia, was so weak he could hardly stand and when my mum said ‘Den let me push you in the wheelchair’ he said ‘no nan you want my legs to get strong again don’t you’.

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“Whenever we were out together and one of us went to the shop or toilet he would make the whole group come back and wait, he would never let anyone be alone or left.

“Walking that little baby to the morgue yesterday and walking out that hospital leaving him there was the hardest thing I will ever have to face in this life. But I know he was there with us.

“I love you little Denny and I will never accept you are no longer with us everyday. We will all be together forever again one day. Have loads of fun baby free of pain.”

Gill Gibb, the chief executive of Tree of Hope, a children’s charity which supported Denny and his family, said: “We are all very sad to hear about the passing of Denny.

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“His family, friends, community and other supporters did an amazing job of fundraising over half a million pounds in less than a year. This will now be used to pay for Denny’s funeral and for his sister Marley’s future healthcare needs. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

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