By Kayla DeKraker
Actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise recently reflected on the life of his son Mac Sinise.
“You know, Mac died in on January 5, 2024,” Sinise told Fox News Digital, recalling how Mac accomplished so many amazing things despite battling cancer. “…Actually the last year of his life, [it] was a pretty amazing year for him. He, I think, he was feeling like, you know, things were closing in on him, you know, it was a very, very difficult cancer, and there was no cure, and none of the drugs were working. And he kept trying.”
Mac was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Chordoma in 2018.
“Chordoma is a one in a million cancer. Originating in the spine, Chordoma affects, on average, only 300 people in the U.S. per year. In 70% of the cases the initial tumor can be removed, and it is cured. But in 30% of the cases, perhaps about 90 people per year, the cancer returns,” Sinise wrote about Mac’s condition in a memorial blog post.
Mac accepted his diagnosis with grace and made the most of the time he had, diving into his music.
Related: Gary Sinise Remembers Son Mac After His Death: ‘Proud to be His Dad’
“He kept wanting to try, but nothing was giving us any, any real hope. And so, I think he was very practical and very realistic about what was going on,” Sinise said. “He had some music that he wanted to work on that he never finished. And so, he went to work on that music. And it turned into a whole album.”
Sinise released Mac’s first album Resurrection & Revival in 2024, and Resurrection & Revival Part Two was later released. The FORREST GUMP actor is currently working on releasing more of Mac’s music in a third part coming next year.
“He was in…pain during that. I remember…sometimes he couldn’t sit up, you know. It was just better to recline him back in his wheelchair because of some of the pain,” Sinise said.
“…but he had a smile on his face through the whole thing, because he was listening to this music,” he continued. “He’d accomplished this wonderful thing that he started out with, and then I had to take him to the hospital like, you know, within a day of that. And that was, that was the end for him. This is part of life, you know, this is part of life where we lose loved ones. And, you know, for a parent to lose a child, it’s really…it’s a difficult thing to go through.”
“I’ve met a lot of people, lot of parents, who’ve lost military…sons and daughters over the years, and I’ve tried to help them…by providing services and support for them. And I think I’ve learned quite a bit, you know, over the years, watching these families deal with that kind of loss. And I think that’s helped me, for sure, the fact that Mac left all this beautiful music and that I discovered it.”
Sinise concluded, “I found so many things, and it’s like Mac, you know, just built this treasure chest of beautiful melodies. He did a lot of great work at the foundation and left a lasting impression, a great legacy of service and this music is tremendous.”
Last week, Sinise posted a photo of Mac playing drums to celebrate his birthday.
“Today our son and brother Mac shares the USMC birthday. Here he is at Camp Pendleton performing with my band,” Sinise wrote. “Happy Birthday Mac and USMC. Enjoy this new video, posted on Mac’s YouTube channel. Amazing Grace from his Resurrection and Revival album at the link in my bio.”
While Sinise continues to miss his son, he’s grateful for the music he left that keeps his memory alive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qEXDU2dMYQ&t=8s
Read Next: Gary Sinise Announces Late Son’s Album ‘Resurrection & Revival’
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