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This Dying Woman's Letter to Her Sons Will Leave You in a Puddle Of Tears

Photo credit: Tess Follett
Photo credit: Tess Follett

From Country Living

For those with a terminal illness, one of the hardest things, no doubt, is coming to terms with the idea of leaving your loved ones behind. But one woman has found a way to face that painful reality by offering her young sons some sentimental wisdom-and now, it's resonating with people around the globe.

When Sara Chivers, 34, from Melbourne, Australia was told she has terminal brain cancer last March, she decided to pen a powerful letter, originally published by The New Daily, to her two sons, Alfie, 18 months, and Hugh, 3, in the hopes that it will help guide them when she's gone. "I am living with terminal brain cancer," Sara told ABC News. "The question isn't whether I will die from this disease, it's when. It is this very question that has plagued me since brain cancer and I first made our acquaintance."

Sara fought and beat brain cancer before, in 2008, but it unfortunately returned this year in the form of three tumors. But when Alfie was diagnosed with a different type of brain cancer, known as an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, Sara, along with her husband, Leigh, decided it was even more important to leave this letter behind for him and Hugh. "Alfie's diagnosis has given me something else to fight for," Sara told The New Daily. "It's not about me any more. It's all about him."

Her letter offers guidance on finding love, facing fears, and finding their passions-and cancer or no cancer, it's advice that any child would be lucky to receive.

Dear Hugh and Alfie,

I won't be around to see you grow up. It's a hard thing to say and even harder to face. You will have to hear from others the little things that made me me: my perfume of choice is Michael Kors, my favourite meal is spaghetti bolognese, winter is my preferred season. I wish I was a better cook. I'm a keeper of mementos – tiny hospital name tags, the poem Leigh wrote for my 21st birthday, first baby clothes.

I know your Dad, and our village of family and friends, will keep me alive for you as much as they can, but there are some things I want you to hear from me.

Don't be afraid of expressing your emotions. I will never tire of hearing 'I love you' from Leigh, you boys, my family, friends. Love hard. As they say, it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

That's how I feel about you both. Heartbroken doesn't come close to describing the pain I feel at not being in your lives in the future, but I would never change or forego the time we have spent together and the immense joy you have brought me. You are without a doubt my proudest accomplishments.

You can read the rest of the letter here.

If you want to help those affected by brain cancer, you can donate to Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer or Cure Brain Cancer. Sara's family is also accepting donations for their daily expenses through a Go Fund Me set up by Sara's sister, Stephanie.

(h/t ABC News)

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