Life sometimes hands us trials we definitely weren’t expecting – the types that are just downright hard. But for Heather McManamy, that tribulation would prove to be fatal.
When she was just 36-years-old, this wife and mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But Heather had no intention of succumbing to tempting thoughts of giving up or self-pity. Instead, this strong woman took the last stretch of her life and lived it to the fullest.
Part of that meant leaving her husband, daughter and loved ones with a very special gift. Here’s the narrative:
When she married her husband, Jeff, Heather saw the entire world as at her fingertips – living her true fairytale with the love of her life and best friend!
Image by Heather McManamy
But just a few years later she got the awful news of being diagnosed with breast cancer…they told Heather she had just six weeks to live. But being the amazing person she was, Heather wanted to share her final thoughts with everyone she cared about, including her 4-year-old daughter, Brianna.
Image by Heather McManamy
What she left behind was a note, filled with Heather’s spunk, knack for wit and immense amount of love for every single person in her life.
And her sweet husband shared the letter with her friends on Facebook:
Image by Heather McManamy
“So… I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is, apparently, I’m dead. Good news, if you’re reading this, is that you are most definitely not (unless they have wifi in the afterlife). Yes, this sucks. It sucks beyond words, but I’m just so damn glad I lived a life so full of love, joy and amazing friends. I am lucky to honestly say that I have zero regrets and I spent every ounce of energy I had living life to the fullest. I love you all and thank you for this awesome life.â€
Image by Heather McManamy
“Please don’t think of me with pity or sadness. Smile, knowing that we had a blast together and that time was AMAZING. I fucking hate making people sad. More than anything, I love making people laugh and smile, so please, rather than dwelling on the tragic Terms of Endearment end of my story, laugh at the memories we made and the fun we had.â€
Image by Heather McManamy
“Please tell Brianna stories, so she knows how much I love her and how proud of her I will always be (and make me sound waaay cooler than I am). Because I love nothing more than being her mommy. Nothing. Every moment with her was a happiness I couldn’t even imagine until she came crashing into our world.â€
Image by Heather McManamy
And her closing words had just the same amount of passion and love:
“Don’t say I lost to cancer. Because cancer may have taken almost everything from me, but it never took my love or my hope or my joy. It wasn’t a “battle”it was just life, which is often brutally random and unfair, and that’s simply how it goes sometimes. I didn’t lose, dammit. The way I lived for years with cancer is something I consider a pretty big victory. Please remember that.â€
Heather’s brave and powerful parting from this world is an inspiration to everyone that was in her life… and to all of the strangers whom her courageous note has reached.
Share her words to encourage others today.
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