A 25-year-old woman has announced her death in a heartbreaking and selfless final message.
Daniella Thackray, who worked as a a HR professional in Leeds, took to LinkedIn last week to share her final post and opened up about living with cancer.
The woman, who was described by her workplace, Twentysix Agency, as 'enthusiastic', 'cheerful' and with a 'great outlook on life' described how she 'chose joy' in the final days of her life.
Advert
The message was posted to Daniella's LinkedIn account six days ago and has since clocked up nearly 40k likes, 4.6k reposts and 2.9k comments.
It begins: "If you’re reading this then it means I have died from my battle with cancer and my family are posting my final message on my behalf.
"Firstly, I just want to say that not all cancers are caused by lifestyle choices, in some cases it’s genetics or unfortunately it just happens.
"In my case, despite me being very healthy and active, a cancer started in my bile ducts which was not caused by anything in my control and my life was never the same again."
Advert
Daniella went on to explain a little more about her type of cancer, cholangiocarinoma, which is a rare aggressive cancer with often no obvious causes and no cure.
"I really really do hope that in the years to come more research is done about this horrid cruel disease so that more lives can be saved," she added.
The People Administrator continued: "So with that being said, although we can’t control what happens to us, we can control how we react.
Advert
"I chose not to mourn the life I was losing despite being so devastated, but to instead enjoy every moment I had left.
"As I have always said and believed you should enjoy the little things in life and cherish every moment!
"Romanticise your life! Do whatever makes you happy and don’t let anyone take the joy of life away from you x."
Advert
Daniella went on to assure readers she loved her life and that 'everything I had achieved was what I wanted', adding: "I loved my job, my fiancé, my family, my friends and my dog, and the house we were going to buy and the future we were making for ourselves.
"Leo my fur baby was definitely brought into my life to help brighten my darkest days."
She then took the opportunity to thank everyone for making her life 'so magical' and highlighted the importance of 'enjoying the little things'.
Daniella then added a heartfelt quote from Winnie the Pooh which read: "If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together, there is something you must always remember.
Advert
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.
"But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you."
She concluded the touching post with a message to her fiancé, Tom.
"And lastly to my dear, beautiful Tom, I love you and always will," she finished up. "Thank you for supporting me and bringing so much love and happiness into my life. Go enjoy your life now, you deserve it. Daniella."
Twentysix Agency has since organised a fundraiser for a charity that Daniella selected, St Gemma's Hospice, to honour her memory.
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Rhiannon Ingle