After A 27-Year-Old Woman Died Of Cancer, Her Final Advice Moved The Internet To Tears
Mortality is something people have a hard time accepting. But after a young woman in Australia was diagnosed with cancer, she used it as an opportunity to share the advice she'd learned in life. Her words are wise beyond her years.
Her final powerful letter has resonated with people around the world. It's a testament about the importance of love, mortality, and making each moment count. Keep reading to uncover the wisdom this brave woman with a short life shared.
Meet Holly Butcher
This is Holly Butcher. The blonde 27-year-old hailed from Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, and was close with friends and family, including her older brother Dean and her partner Luke.
But in October 2016, Holly was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as Ewing sarcoma. Nobody expected the struggles such a young healthy vibrant woman faced would be her final battle.
An Adventurous Spirit Cut Short
An avid traveler, Holly often journeyed to the far corners of the Earth with her family and friends. Together they hiked, laughed, and even rode elephants in Thailand!
But sickness has a awful way of taking away our ability to do the things that make us feel most alive. A painful truth that Holly began to realize as her memories of past times became more precious.
The Cancer Diagnosis
Ewing sarcoma is a type of cancer that affects the bones or the soft tissue surrounding the bones.
This rare type of cancer can impact people of any age, but it is common in younger people, such as children and teenagers.
Holly Was Facing Insurmountable Odds
Because of the rarity of the disease, the odds of Holly surviving were not in her favor. Ewing Sarcoma has a heartbreakingly low survival rate for patients with metastatic disease.
She would likely have between a 15%-30% chance of living for five years with it. A window of chance that would sadly be closed for Holly.
Bravely Fighting
The treatment for Ewing Sarcoma often involves invasive surgery to remove the tumors from the bone, chemotherapy, radiation, and even amputations if needed.
Despite the physical and mental toll of her potential prognosis, Holly bravely took her fate into her own hands and met the disease head on: a fight that would inspire everyone who her life touched.
Her Soul Continues To Inspire
In Holly's honor, her brother Dean and her family created a blood drive. He writes on Instagram:
"We now have a Red Cross blood donation drive in Holly's name! All you have to do is fill in the form (see pics) and enter 'Doin it for Holly’ as your Group! That way we can track how many lives we be savin’ 
#doinitforholly"
Her Courage Could Have Saved Many Lives, But Not Her Own
Despite her long battle, only a few days into 2018, Dean and Luke announced Holly's passing.
Her courage is inspiring. But she wasn't done bringing joy and wisdom to those who knew her yet.
A Message From Dean And Luke
In an emotional and heartfelt Facebook post on Holly's now memorialized Facebook page, Dean and Luke shared that Holly passed away in the early morning hours of January 4 at the age of 27.
"After enduring so much, it was finally time for her to say goodbye to us all," they write.
Holly Writes Her Final Goodbyes
Holly's brother and partner share that her final moments were "short and peaceful," adding that she looked serene when they kissed her forehead and said their final goodbyes.
But they then add that knowing her cancer was in its final stages, Holly had prepared her own final message to share with the world.
What Did Holly Have To Say?
For many in their final moments, the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones helps ease their movement from this world to the next. But Holly wasn't satisfied with leaving without sharing her wisdom first.
Her words quickly went viral as many people realized what she had to say wasn't a normal goodbye.
Life Advice From Holly
Holly's final letter went viral on social media, amassing 288,000 reactions and 189,000 shares on Facebook.
"It's a strange thing to realise and accept your mortality at 26 years young. It’s just one of those things you ignore. The days tick by and you just expect they will keep on coming; Until the unexpected happens," she writes.
Let It Go
Whether you are stuck in traffic, are upset with your body, or your babies kept you up the night before, Holly implores people to "Let all that s*** go."
"I swear you will not be thinking of those things when it is your turn to go. It is all SO insignificant when you look at life as a whole."
Mental Health
While physical health is important, so is mental health. Holly asks people to take care of their mental, emotional, and spiritual happiness and warns about how detrimental social media can be toward our happiness. Friend or not, if we come across posts that make us feel bad, she says to delete them.
"Be ruthless for your own well-being," she writes.
Accepting Death
Holly explains that the purpose of her letter isn't to make people fear death, but rather to shed light on what is one of life's inevitabilities.
Often, death is treated as a "taboo" topic that people are invulnerable to, and that's something Holly wants to change by openly discussing.
Physical Health
Instead of complaining about working or exercising, Holly asks people to appreciate the fact that their body is strong, adding that people need to take care of their bodies with exercise and healthy food.
"Appreciate your good health and functioning body—even if it isn't your ideal size. Look after it and embrace how amazing it is."
Material Possessions
In tandem with helping people, Holly writes that people should do more kind gestures for their loved ones, such as buying them small, meaningful gifts or cooking for them.
Instead of accumulating material possessions, she says to use that money to go on once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Put Yourself In Someone Else's Shoes
Holly asks that when we are complaining about something inconsequential to take a step back and think about people who are genuinely struggling.
"Be grateful for your minor issue and get over it," Holly writes. "It's okay to acknowledge that something is annoying but try not to carry on about it and negatively [affect] other people’s days."
What Could Have Been
"I always imagined myself growing old, wrinkled and grey- most likely caused by the beautiful family (lots of kiddies) I planned on building with the love of my life. I want that so bad it hurts."
Holly writes she's not ready to say goodbye at 27, but, sometimes life is out of our control, adding, "It is fragile, precious and unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right."
Just Breathe
Holly then says that once people let go of the little things, they'll be able to focus on the bigger picture.
"Get out there and take a freaking big breath of that fresh Aussie air deep in your lungs, look at how blue the sky is and how green the trees are; It is so beautiful. Think how lucky you are to be able to do just that—breathe."
A Sibling's Love Continues
No doubt Holly was thinking of the love and support she received from family and friends in these moments.
Her memories of those she loved were clearly inspiring her fond words about cherishing adventures and quality time.
"Just One More"
Holly continues, "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."
"Just one more."
We Don't Always Get To Know When It's Our Time To Go
Even though Holly never got her "one more time", her spirit surely helps push her family onwards in their own life journeys.
Whenever they feel low or in need of strength, they likely think of Holly's desire for more time and it gives them the courage to carry on.
Final Pieces Of Advice
Holly also writes that if someone is upsetting us, we have the power to change and that often requires courage. Our time on Earth is limited, so she says not to spend precious time being miserable.
"Tell your loved ones you love them every time you get the chance and love them with everything you have."
Help One Another
Holly writes that since she's been sick, she's had the pleasure of meeting kind and generous people, and is overjoyed by the support she has received from loved ones and total strangers. She then asks to pay it forward.
"It is true that you gain more happiness doing things for others than doing them for yourself. I wish I did this more."
Life Experiences
Whether a postponed trip or a day amongst nature, Holly writes to enjoy the beauty around us. But, she says to enjoy being in the moment rather than trying to capture it on screen.
"Life isn't meant to be lived through a screen nor is it about getting the perfect photo.. enjoy the bloody moment, people! Stop trying to capture it for everyone else."
Her Final Christmas
With this in mind, Holly explains that her final Christmas was spent simplistically. Even though the tree was "sad and empty," the family scrapped buying presents for each other and instead exchanged meaningful cards.
"It might seem lame but those cards mean more to me than any impulse purchase could," she writes.
Life's Simple Moments
Near the end of her letter, Holly reminds people to enjoy life's simple moments. These include watching the sunrise, listening to music, cuddling your dog, traveling, talking to friends, eating cake, and that people should work to live, not live to work.
She also reminds people that it's okay to have boundaries and tell people "No" because everyone has their own idea of what a "fulfilling" life is.
To Making It Count
The piece of advice that Holly wishes to share is for people to stop worrying about the small and meaningless stresses in life.
She wants people to remember that ultimately, we all share the same fate, and therefore it's up to us to make our limited time "worthwhile and great."
Please Donate Blood
The final thing Holly asks of readers is to donate blood. She explains that the deed will make people feel good while also saving lives.
She adds that a single blood donation can save the lives of three people and that such a small gesture can have an incredible impact—something she knows firsthand.
Goodbye
"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. A year I had some of the greatest times of my life," Holly writes.
"'Til we meet again."
