LAND O' LAKES, Fla. — A family and several communities are mourning the death of 10-year-old Mason Fox. Mason died on Sunday after a months-long battle with leukemia. He was well known in the Tampa Bay area, especially in youth hockey and the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue where his dad works.
Monday night, an impromptu candlelight vigil happened outside the Fox's home near Land O' Lakes.
“Neighbors [Monday night] from all around,” said Mason’s father, Michael Fox. “Coming from blocks around just showing their support for us. Yesterday was the worst day of our lives."
Mason's parents, Leslie and Michael, spoke through tears about their son, the eldest of four boys.
"He was the sweetest person I’ve ever met,” said Leslie. “He's so passionate, so full of empathy for others.”
His family says he loved hockey and excelled on the ice. His 10-and-under team went undefeated in the last seasons he played. Last November, the Tampa Bay Lightning honored him with the ceremonial puck drop at their “Hockey Beats Cancer” night.
"He was a great athlete, very empathetic to the other players,” said Michael. “He told me once his favorite thing to do wasn't scoring goals but to pass the puck. He loved getting assists.”
Diagnosed with leukemia in April last year, he was responding well to treatment but infections in the last few weeks were too much for his weakened immune system.
"Right before they intubated him, his last words to me were 'don't cry mommy,'” Leslie said.
Less than forty eight hours since his passing, his mother says it's his blue eyes and infectious smile that brings the greatest joy and sadness.
"All throughout treatment, he was always smiling, no matter what,” she said. “Whenever I took a picture, for anything, he was always smiling.”
Before he died, Mason wanted to create a foundation to help other children battling cancer; a foundation his parents say they'll create in his honor.
A wake is being held for Mason at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Trinity. His public funeral is at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Lutz.