Paxton Idell, Boy Who Skydived After Terminal Cancer Diagnosis, Dies at 9. Mom Shares His Final Words to Her

Mar. 15, 2025

Paxton Idell swimming with a dolphin (left), the Idell family.Photo:Courtesy of Amanda Idell

Courtesy of Amanda Idell

A Texas family is morning the loss of a little boy whose personality was larger than life.Paxton’s mother, Amanda Idell, shared the heartbreaking news of the 9-year-old’s death fromPediatric Medulloblastomaon Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, almost four years since he wasfirst diagnosed.On a Facebook page where friends and family could receive updates on Paxton’s condition, Amanda explains that a “fairly normal” day took a turn. Paxton’s condition had declined since Christmas and he was no longer able to get around on his own.“I gave Paxton his meds and gave him a dose of morphine. Just to prevent any pain as we needed to lift him from the bed, so I could hold him while Kris changed the bedding. I sat holding him in the chair next to our bed. He mumbled some things that I couldn’t make out and then there was a mumbled ‘I love you,’ " Amanda wrote.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Paxton preparing to zipline.courtesy of Amanda Idell"Shortly after putting Paxton comfy into bed and while I was laying next to him. I noticed his breathing changed and he started gasping and I could hear the rattle. I took a video for our nurse and called hospice. This was around 11:20 a.m. Usually once these signs start, it can be hours to a day. 12:40 he stopped breathing and time was called if nothing happened or changed.“Paxton’s time of death had been called in an incident late late year, only for the little boy to come back. The same happened again, albeit briefly.“Paxton once again in all his epicness, his heart picked back up and a few mins later time was called again and it was over. I’m thankful it was quick, I never [wanted] him to suffer and I feel like that was accomplished,” the dedicated mom shared.“We were all around him loving on him until the very end. There wasn’t any pain. We feel extremely fortunate that we had our Paxton and his full personality up until the end. We really didn’t have any major issues with pain and we kept him out of the hospital, a place he didn’t want to be.“Amanda concluded, “Before the funeral home came as I was holding him. Paxton’s voice came to mind and said ‘I died of boredom.’ It was one of those things that is so on par with his personality that when I repeated it out loud, we all had a laugh. A few days ago he was complaining about how boring all of this was.“When speaking with PEOPLE in August about Paxton skydiving and pursuing more of his “bucket list” dreams, Amanda shared her hopes for sharing Paxton’s story.“You always know how special your own kids are. I never want him to be forgotten. I didn’t want a world where nobody knew Paxton and who he really is, because it takes him a minute to warm up. I wanted people to know him and to know Paxton was here, Paxton lived and Paxton was special.“She also hopes it raises awareness of pediatric cancer to unsuspecting parents. “I hope people learn what pediatric cancer can look like in a kid.““Paxton’s initial symptom was just a lazy eye. That’s what started everything. I wish I would have known more about what to look for. We talk about preventing SIDs or what different rashes mean but nobody tells you what the early stages of cancer can look like in your child.”

A Texas family is morning the loss of a little boy whose personality was larger than life.

Paxton’s mother, Amanda Idell, shared the heartbreaking news of the 9-year-old’s death fromPediatric Medulloblastomaon Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, almost four years since he wasfirst diagnosed.

On a Facebook page where friends and family could receive updates on Paxton’s condition, Amanda explains that a “fairly normal” day took a turn. Paxton’s condition had declined since Christmas and he was no longer able to get around on his own.

“I gave Paxton his meds and gave him a dose of morphine. Just to prevent any pain as we needed to lift him from the bed, so I could hold him while Kris changed the bedding. I sat holding him in the chair next to our bed. He mumbled some things that I couldn’t make out and then there was a mumbled ‘I love you,’ " Amanda wrote.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Paxton preparing to zipline.courtesy of Amanda Idell

courtesy of Amanda Idell

“Shortly after putting Paxton comfy into bed and while I was laying next to him. I noticed his breathing changed and he started gasping and I could hear the rattle. I took a video for our nurse and called hospice. This was around 11:20 a.m. Usually once these signs start, it can be hours to a day. 12:40 he stopped breathing and time was called if nothing happened or changed.”

Paxton’s time of death had been called in an incident late late year, only for the little boy to come back. The same happened again, albeit briefly.

“Paxton once again in all his epicness, his heart picked back up and a few mins later time was called again and it was over. I’m thankful it was quick, I never [wanted] him to suffer and I feel like that was accomplished,” the dedicated mom shared.

“We were all around him loving on him until the very end. There wasn’t any pain. We feel extremely fortunate that we had our Paxton and his full personality up until the end. We really didn’t have any major issues with pain and we kept him out of the hospital, a place he didn’t want to be.”

Amanda concluded, “Before the funeral home came as I was holding him. Paxton’s voice came to mind and said ‘I died of boredom.’ It was one of those things that is so on par with his personality that when I repeated it out loud, we all had a laugh. A few days ago he was complaining about how boring all of this was.”

When speaking with PEOPLE in August about Paxton skydiving and pursuing more of his “bucket list” dreams, Amanda shared her hopes for sharing Paxton’s story.

“You always know how special your own kids are. I never want him to be forgotten. I didn’t want a world where nobody knew Paxton and who he really is, because it takes him a minute to warm up. I wanted people to know him and to know Paxton was here, Paxton lived and Paxton was special.”

She also hopes it raises awareness of pediatric cancer to unsuspecting parents. “I hope people learn what pediatric cancer can look like in a kid.”

“Paxton’s initial symptom was just a lazy eye. That’s what started everything. I wish I would have known more about what to look for. We talk about preventing SIDs or what different rashes mean but nobody tells you what the early stages of cancer can look like in your child.”

source: people.com