Terminally Ill Fan Passes Away Day After Meeting Eminem

Gage Garmo, who suffered from a rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma, passed away yesterday (January 12) in his home, a day after meeting Eminem.

“Family members told staffers at the Rainbow Connection that Garmo died early Monday evening — a day after the rapper fulfilled the 17-year-old’s last wish by visiting him at home in Rochester Hills,” The Detriot Free Press reports.

The Rainbow Connection is a Michigan-based charity organization, which connected the Detroit rapper with the teenager from Rochester Hills, Michigan.

“Since 1985 thousands of Michigan children with life threatening illnesses have experienced their most special dream come true,” according to Rainbow Connection’s website.

Garmo fought with cancer since his freshman year at Rochester High three years ago. When his situation grew dire, community members rallied on social media to make his final wish come true.

“[He] was given approximately one week to live by doctors and so friends, family, and Twitter users started spreading the hashtag #GetGageGarmoToMeetEminem,” HipHopDX reported yesterday.

Eminem made the 20-minute communte from his Michigan home to visit Garmo Sunday (January 11).

“We’re told Em was adamant he did not want the visit to become a media spectacle — and quietly arrived to Gage’s home around 5PM Sunday,” TMZ reports. “The two spent around an hour together — talking and hanging out. We’re told the whole thing meant a lot to Gage, who was in good spirits during the visit and after. “

A candlelight vigil was held Monday night for Garmo at his high school. Shady Records collaborator Royce Da 5’9 announced the Eminem appearance early Monday via Instagram.

“Mission accomplished,” Royce said. “God Bless this beautiful kid and thank you guys for all your hard work…”

Eminem’s latest project, 2014’s Shady XV was released in November to four out of five rating by HipHopDX.

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