Heather McMany was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and was determined that a little thing like death wouldn’t get in the way of her saying her final goodbyes in a way that is both moving and uplifting.
Heather, 36, told her husband Jeff to post an open letter on Facebook when she finally passed away — for daughter Brianna, friends, family, and anyone else who cared to read it.
“I have some good news and some bad news,” the letter begins, “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).”
“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.”
“Yes, this sucks. It sucks beyond words, but I’m just so damn glad that 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.”
“I am not in heaven. I’m here. But no longer in this crappy body that turned against me.”
“My energy, my love, my laughter, those incredible moments, it’s all here with you. Please don’t think of me with pity or sadness. Smile, knowing that we had a blast together and that time was AMAZING.”
“And 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.”
Heather reminds everyone to appreciate every single day, asking, “If you go to my funeral, please run up a bar tab that would make me proud.”
“Heck, blast ‘Keg On My Coffin’ and dance on the bar for me. Celebrate the beauty of life with a kickass party because you know that’s what I want and I believe that in a weird way, I will find a way to be there too.”
“Please do me a favor and take a few minutes each day to acknowledge the fragile adventure that is this crazy life.”
“Don’t ever forget: every day matters.”