Northwestern Elementary student Barrett Fitzsimmons dies after three-year cancer battle

» EARLIER COVERAGE: Jim Harbaugh to Springfield cancer patient: 'Keep fighting'

Northwestern released a statement that read in part: “His family would like to personally thank everyone for the sincere thoughts, prayers, food and financial support over the last 3 years. It has not gone unnoticed!”

Fitzsimmons, the son of Brad and Lana Fitzsimmons, was a 6-year-old first grader at Northwestern Elementary School when he diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stage 4.

The “Barrett Strong!” movement to support Barrett and his family began soon after the diagnosis. Thousands of people have followed his fight since then.

»PHOTOS: Barrett at Michigan Stadium

Three years ago, Fitzsimmons earned an invitation to a Michigan football game from Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh. The whole family attended a game in Ann Arbor, Mich., that fall.

A year later, Fitzsimmons had recovered enough from surgeries to step on the football field as a player for the first time. Still, his battle with cancer never stopped.

This spring, Fitzsimmons received numerous visitors at Dayton Children’s Hospital, including Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and members of the Dayton Dragons and Dayton Flyers women’s basketball team.

In April, the Fitzsimmons family provided an update, writing “Barrett remains in the hospital. He was moved to the 4th Floor (Oncology Floor) today from ICU. After numerous tests and scans it has shown that his disease is progressing. The Dr & Nurses are doing everything they can to keep him comfortable.”