Liam, a passionate Liverpool supporter from Darlington, made the homepage of the official club website on April 18 after his plight came to the attention of club staff. It was on this day that he was presented with a shirt signed by his heroes just hours after doctors admitted there was nothing more they could do to save his life.
Liam only found out he was suffering from stomach cancer six weeks before after he was admitted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle. After being treated with an intensive course of radiotherapy, Liam was told on April 3 that he had beaten the cancer as the tumour had started to shrink.
Things took a serious turn for the worse the following day when Liam became very ill however. X-Rays revealed that the cancer had not only returned, it had spread throughout his body. It was at this moment that his parents were told that more radiotherapy would only help prolong his life by a matter of weeks.
Liam was then told he had just two weeks left to live and was allowed home to die. Macmillan nurses were on hand round the clock to help him and his family at this incredibly difficult time. Upon arriving home, Liam's wish to his dad was to spend his final days in a shirt signed by the players he idolises. He also asked his dad to bury him in a Liverpool shirt when he dies as he's lived and breathed Liverpool Football Club all his life.
When news reached the club of Liam's plight, the youngster's dad was contacted and Liam was invited down to Melwood on Monday to not only pick up a signed shirt but also be taken on a tour of Melwood and meet not just the players but also Rafael Benitez.
Unfortunately, Liam was advised by doctors that he wouldn't be able to make the trip to Liverpool due to his worsening condition as even short trips between his home and the hospital in Newcastle for radiotherapy sessions take too much out of the youngster.
However, while Liam couldn't make the trip to Melwood to pick up the shirt, one arrived special delivery at his home in the North East from Liverpool complete with the autographs of all his heroes.
News about Liam immediately touched a nerve with Reds fans everywhere and a plan was put into action to try and create a number of flags bearing Liam's name to showcase at the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea at Anfield.
The hope was that TV cameras would pick out the flags and Liam, if he was still alive, would see them at home on TV. Liam was alive and the TV cameras did show the flags. It was an incredibly moving moment for Liam, his family and friends and Reds fans everywhere who had taken the 17-year-old to their heart.
The flags were then sent to Liam and adorned the walls of his room in time for the second leg of the semi-final at Stamford Bridge (see above). Liverpool lost that match but for Liam's family, a far greater loss occurred today (Monday). Liam's suffering is now over however and our thoughts - and those of Liverpool supporters everywhere - go out to his family and those who really knew this remarkable young man.
In his final dying days, Liam Harker didn't walk alone.
*Courtesy of LiverpoolFC.tv
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