27-Year-Old Woman Pens Tear-Jerking Facebook Post Before Passing Away from Cancer
Holly Butcher imagined herself in old age with grey hair and wrinkled skin. On some level, most of us likely imagine that future for ourselves rather than one where we face death much younger.
But the Brisbane, Australia, native was suddenly diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma.
As the 27-year-old knew her life was quickly coming to an end, she penned a tear-jerking Facebook post.
“It’s a strange thing to realize and accept your mortality at 26 years young…The days tick by and you just expect they will keep on coming; Until the unexpected happens,” it began.
Butcher shared that she was happy with this life. She didn’t want to stop living.
Yet, she explained that her intentions for writing the post were not to instill fear. As a young woman with cancer who was facing her inevitable death, she found the topic of death was often considered taboo.
The post gave her the chance not only to talk about death, but to also talk about really living. She urged people to stop whining about minor issues and “get over it.”
She noted issues such as getting caught in traffic, having a stylist cut your hair too short, or lacking energy from a sleepless night because “your beautiful babies kept you awake.”
These are all situations, though seemingly minor, that can lead to negative outlooks and complaints.
The letter was a powerful reminder from Butcher to let go of the small stuff. “I’m watching my body waste away right before my eyes with nothing I can do about it and all I wish for now is that I could have just one more Birthday or Christmas with my family, or just one more day with my partner and dog,” Butcher shared.
She also addressed those who obsess over physical appearance and wish they had a different body.
Coming from a young woman who was dying, it could not have been a more genuine message of finding gratitude for a healthy and functioning body over one that is your “ideal size.”
Have you ever scrolled through social media only to feel worse about yourself? You might wish you had nicer clothing, a different hairstyle, a more expensive car, a bigger house, or more glamorous vacations when you compare yourself to the images and posts you see online.
Butcher gave wise advice for this problem with discontentment. Delete accounts that make you feel that way.
“Be ruthless for your own well-being,” she wrote. One of her final pieces of advice was to donate blood.
Butcher wrote, “Blood donation (more bags than I could keep up with counting) helped keep me alive for an extra year – a year I will be forever grateful that I got to spend it here on Earth with my family, friends and dog.”
Sadly, Butcher passed away early in the morning on Jan. 4, but her life advice can continue to be a source of inspiration to us all.
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