Omar Henry passed away early Friday morning.
Always confident in his ability, and sure he was destined to one day become the super welterweight champion, Henry is just now gaining the fame he had not yet achieved in life. At just 25 years of age, he lost his fight with gall bladder cancer at a hospital in Chicago.
Omar Henry had a great start to his professional boxing career, amassing a 12-0-1 record. He was scheduled to make his debut on Showtime Nov. 16, but fell ill just a few days before the fight was to take place. What he figured would be a routine trip to the doctor turned into a diagnosis on Stage 4 gall bladder cancer.
He never kept his struggle private, preferring to reach out to friends and fans, asking for their prayers and support. In a particularly memorable post on his Facebook page, he talked about hoping to live to see his 26th birthday on Feb. 8. Tragically, he would not achieve that goal.
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 learning of his life threatening situation, Omar Henry did several interviews with various media outlets. He said he was optimistic that he would beat the disease. On Dec. 12 he spoke with FightHype, saying he felt blessed, but was having a hard time thinking about what his future might hold.
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 spoke of the fear of waiting to find out if his cancer had disappeared, or if he would be dead in a matter of weeks.
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.
In his last post, just hours before he would take his last breath, he once again reached out to people asking for prayers, and if possible, financial contributions to aid his family with the massive medical bills.
To my friends and loyal fans. I thank you all for the good wishes and prayers. As of right now my situation has got difficult for myself and my family. I am in need of everyone’s support due to my financial struggle. My family is in need of any help possible. Therefore I am asking for any kind of help any amount will be appreciated. Please if you can send any donations toomardhenry87@gmail.com. Which is my Paypal email that all funds will help me fight this fight. And God can grant me more time to see my birthday. Again please send any thing that touches your heart to this email:
Omardhenry87@gmail.com
Through your Paypal account.
Thank you again. My love is to all my friends and loyal fans
The passing of Omar Henry is heart wrenching to so many who knew him. Just a few short months ago, he was an elite athlete in seemingly perfect health. Now he is no longer with us, instead just a wonderful memory to those who were closest to him. His family and friends should be incredibly proud of the dignity he showed in his struggle.
In death he is gaining many more fans. It’s unfortunate we didn’t all get to know him before then, but his memory will be sure to live on for longer than his short life did.
