Mr Viral
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney paid tribute to fan Aiden Waller, who died after a yearslong battle with bone cancer: “He was pure goodness.”
Ryan Reynolds Surprises 9-Year-Old Fan Battling Cancer
Ryan Reynolds is sharing love with a grieving family.
The Deadpool & Wolverine star expressed his condolences to the family of fan Aiden Waller—who Ryan previously invited to a Wrexham AFC home game—after the 15-year-old died following his three-year battle with bone cancer.
“He was pure goodness,” Ryan wrote to Aiden’s mom Sarah Waller on X, formerly known as Twitter, Feb. 5. “No parent should go thru this. His visits were as much for you as they were for him. He had a sense of well-being and a sense of calm because you gave him YOURS. That sacrifice is unimaginable.”
He emphasized, “You’re welcome at our club and town forever.”
The 48-year-old also shared a sweet snap from Aiden’s August 2022 visit to Racecourse Ground on his Instagram Stories, while Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney applauded the teen’s resilience in a tribute post of his own.
“Sarah, Aiden’s strength was matched only by yours and the strength of your entire family,” he wrote on X. “I am honored to have met you all. Especially your sweet boy Aiden. Thank you for that privilege and for shepherding a source of light in the world for as long as he was with us.”
When sharing the heartbreaking news on social media, Sarah said that her son had passed away with “no pain and holding our hands.” She posted a snap of her son alongside the two actors, writing, “Thank you for making a dream come true.”
Ryan Reynolds/X
After all, spending the day with Ryan and Rob was a surreal experience for Aiden—who was first diagnosed with cancer in February 2022, according to his mom—because meeting the Green Lantern star was one of his wishes.
“We were welcomed like family, it was just little simple acts of kindness that they didn’t have to do, it made me want to cry,” Sarah told The Leader in September 2022 of the experience. “He, Rob and Rob’s family were all amazing. They were all so down to earth.”
In fact, she revealed that Aiden even got to sit in the front row alongside Ryan and Rob. As she put it, “It was just little things like that that make the difference.”
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings