A Moving Farewell: A Mother's Parting Gifts to Her Four-Year-Old Daughter

The mother, her daughter, and her husband

This is the touching story of Heather McManamy, a 35-year-old from Wisconsin, USA, who was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. According to her doctors, Heather's time is limited, a reality that offers her little hope when it comes to watching her four-year-old daughter, Brianna, grow up. "It's incredibly hard to know that one day I won't be there to see her grow and develop," Heather says, smiling through her tears. "Yet I still have hope, and I'll do everything I can to stay here with my daughter and husband."

As her condition severely declined in the last month, Heather grappled with the complex internal conflict of 'how exactly do you say goodbye?' What do you say and what do you leave unsaid? How do you prepare such a young child for the time when her mother will no longer be by her side? How do you explain that mommy didn't leave her but had to go to 'another place'? And how do you fill the vast void that will be left in her life?

After days of deliberation, Heather decided to channel her experience into something more lasting, opting not to waste any precious time. She sat down and wrote about 40 letters, also recording various videos with incisive and heartfelt messages for her daughter. Heather organized the letters for different milestones Brianna would experience in life, such as school, university, learning to drive, her wedding, and more. Heather filled her letters with jokes, words of encouragement, and love, with messages for bad days, happy days, and ordinary no-news days. "I pray and hope Brianna lives a happy life. Life is short, and it's important to make the most of it wisely," Heather said.

Mother's letters to her daughter. A letter for each life experience ahead.

From this story, we can learn an important life lesson: Our time here is limited, and no one knows when or how we will leave this world. Let us pause for a moment, reflect deeply on our circumstances, and try to change what can be changed: our optimistic and joyful outlook toward all situations we face in life. Let us invest our time in the purpose for which we were created: studying Torah and observing mitzvot, with joy and faith. 

Watch the video on the importance of joy and ways to achieve it: