Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@caseyrmcintyre
Topics: Health, Social media, Real Life, Life, Instagram
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Health, Social media, Real Life, Life, Instagram
A New York mother-of-one has heartbreakingly announced her own death in an emotional social media post, written during her final days on Earth.
Casey McIntyre tragically died of ovarian cancer this weekend (12 November), leaving behind her beloved husband Andrew, and their beautiful baby girl.
But the brave mother wanted to share a heartfelt message to her loved ones upon her death, thanking them for being there for her during her final moments.
Casey wrote the social media post whilst at her most unwell, giving Andrew strict instructions to post the message, as well as a series of photos of them together with their daughter.
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"A note to my friends: if you’re reading this it means I have passed away," the Instagram post read.
"I'm so sorry, it's horses*** and we both know it. The cause was a recurrence of my previously diagnosed stage four ovarian cancer."
The carousel of photos showed Casey at various important stages during her life - including as a child, at her wedding to Andrew, and holding their precious daughter.
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"I loved each and every one of you with my whole heart and I promise you, I knew how deeply I was loved," her statement continued.
Prior to her death, Casey - who worked in publishing - had spent her last five months in home hospice in Virginia, Rhode Island and New York, during which she was constantly surrounded by her friends and family.
She unfortunately never had the opportunity to finish her social media post, with husband Andrew needing to add an 'editor's note' to the end of her statement after she'd passed away.
He expressed his 'heartbreak' at the fact that Casey wasn't given the time to finish her social media post before she died.
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"Casey meant to finish this post with a list of things that were a comfort & a joy to her during her life, and I am heartbroken that I will never see that list," Andrew wrote.
"As she grew sicker, she couldn’t finish it," he went on.
"I imagine it would’ve included our daughter Grace, whales, ice cream, her beloved friends, being at the beach, her niece and nephews she incorrigibly doted on, reading 10 books on a weeklong vacation, her beloved parents and sister and their amazing extended family, swimming, a perfect roast beef sandwich, and me, her sweet, sweet honey."
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Andrew concluded the post: "Oh Casey! I don't know how we will do it without you but we will."
He then asked her followers to share 'a note that was a comfort or a joy that you shared' with her, before noting down the details of her memorial service.
Andrew also revealed that Casey planned to 'celebrate' her life by setting up a fundraiser, by which she'll pay off the medical debts of those who are going through the same illness.
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"We will celebrate her life by anonymously purchasing medical debt and then anonymously forgiving it," Andrew continued. "Hopefully with a bonfire if they will let us.
"If attending [her memorial service], please wear something that expresses your deep sorrow at our loss, as well as something that expresses the joy you feel for having ever known Casey."
Prior to her passing, Casey took to X - formerly known as Twitter - to share details about her generous initiative.
"To celebrate my life, I've arranged to buy up others' medical debt and then destroy the debt," she penned. "I am so lucky to have had access to the best medical care at @MSKCancerCenter and am keenly aware that so many in our country don't have access to good care."
Each donation to the 'Casey McIntyre's Memorial and Debt Jubilee' will be made anonymously, and her goals for the fundraiser have already been exceeded.
She set out to raise a target of $20,000, and has already received $20,908.50 in donations, sparking a new goal of $30,000.