Most people would easily recognize actor Gary Sinise because of his role in the movie, Forrest Gump. He played Lieut. Dan but he continued to be known because of the work he did in behalf of veterans and their families.
Unfortunately, Sinise is now mourning the death of his son, Mac. He was only 33 years old when he passed away on January 5, 2024 after battling cancer for a long time.
According to the Gary Sinise Foundation Website, his son had suffered from Chordoma, which is a rare form of cancer that only affects about 300 people per year. 70% of the people who are diagnosed with that form of cancer are cured after surgery to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, 30% experience a return of the tumor.
Mac underwent surgery in 2018 to remove the tumor but by 2019, the cancer had returned. Gary said that this started the long battle that disabled him more and more as time went on.
Mac may have been dealing with cancer but he still continued to pursue his love of music for as long as he could. He had graduated from the USC Thorton school of music and had been working on a song he started writing in college.
The song was named ‘Arctic Circles’ and by the time he completed it, he was paralyzed from the chest down and could not play instruments any longer. He finished writing the song using an iPad from his hospital bed.
After finishing the song, it completed the album, ‘Resurrection & Revival.’ The album went to press and Mac died the same week.
on December 20, Gary rushed his son to the emergency room because he was having difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, he was never able to go home and on January 5, with his family surrounding him, his battle with cancer took its toll.
According to his father, the family was heartbroken. He wrote: “As parents, it is so difficult losing a child. My heart goes out to all who have suffered a similar loss, and to anyone who has lost a loved one.”
Gary added, “Our family’s cancer fight lasted for 5 ½ years, and it became more and more challenging as time went on. While our hearts ache at missing him, we are comforted in knowing that Mac is no longer struggling, and inspired and moved by how he managed it. He fought an uphill battle against a cancer that has no cure, but he never quit trying.” He added, “I am so blessed, fortunate, and proud to be his dad.”
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