Heather McManamy’s last letter went up on Facebook this afternoon. Except, she wasn’t the one to post it: her husband Jeff was.
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.
What follows is a long, hilarious, heartwarming, tragic letter from a woman who had known she was dying for a long time. McManamy was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2013 and learned that it had metastasized to her bones and liver in September 2014. From there, she had no choice but to plan ahead.
What she did: she wrote letters. A whole lot of them. One for each milestone that she would miss witnessing in her daughter Brianna’s life. “I did them from when she’s older or younger—random encouragement, bad day, wedding, driver license, even first breakup,” McManamy told ABC News before her death. “Every one of these that I get to hand out in person will be an accomplishment.”
The end result is over forty cards for her daughter.
“I will do anything and everything to be here for my daughter and my husband,” McManamy said. “I guess I still have hope. I’m just not ready to say goodbye yet.”
According to McManamy’s obituary in her hometown newspaper, the McFarland Thistle, the letters are going to be turned into a book co-authored by William Croyle and slated for release next year.
The full version of McManamy’s last letter to her friends and loved ones is below:
