Heather McManamy was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2013, and in the face of her illness and death, she was adamant she would live life until her last, and make a plan for how to prepare her six-year-old daughter Brianna for the loss of her mother.

McManamy wrote a number of cards for different occasions Brianna will experience throughout her life, and for which she won’t be there. The messages, prepared for Brianna’s first day of school and her wedding day, were gathered in a collection called Cards for Brianna, and published.

McManamy lost her battle with cancer on December 15^th at the age of 36. She is survived by her husband Jeff and her daughter. Before she passed away, McManamy wrote a letter to all the people who had offered her support and instructed Jeff to post it on Facebook after she was gone. The following day he published the note, which has now become a viral hit for its frank – and frankly funny – take on living and dying.

You can read the touching letter below:

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