Man was having a 'hard time' with his dad in ICU—then discovered a poignant letter from his late mom that healed his heart
Love has a strange way of bringing hope and healing. Even when our loved ones are gone, we find solace in simple words, memories and moments that connect to them and indirectly, to their timeless love. A man who goes by u/MattGald on Reddit was dealing with several challenges when his dad was in the ICU during his battle with cancer. While it was tough for him to get by, he found a note his late mother had left him and the contents became a soothing relief. The woman left a message for him that made him stop and take comfort in knowing that he was not alone and that every bit was worth it.
The mom had passed away from cancer and seeing his dad battle the same illness must have been crushing for him. He noted that things were getting difficult for him with his father’s condition. “Times are hard right now because my dad's in the ICU from complications with his own cancer,” the post read. Around the same time, when he felt like he could no longer hold the weight, his mother’s angelic presence was discovered in a letter she left him. “I'm writing this letter in hopes of you finding this one day,” the mom began. She first assured her son that he was loved and that he had an aura of resilience and love that she admired.
“I hope you knew how much I loved you! You have the kindest soul of anyone I've known,” she wrote. The man was then reminded of how he battled hardships with strength while looking after his chronically ill mother. “You were always there for me when I needed you. You quit your job knowing you would not have any income just so I would have someone to take me to treatments,” the mom recalled in the letter. She expressed her gratitude by adding, “What an awesome thing to do! Thank you for that!” The letter continued with a few bits of wisdom the mom had to leave behind.
“I hope and pray that you are close to _____. Family is everything. I hope that you have found the person of your dreams, that you are very happy and content in your life. You so deserve it,” she wrote. Towards the end of the letter, the woman left her son with a profound memory and her heart’s deepest message. “One of the best times spent with you was at Grounds for Sculptures. Do you remember?” she asked. Concluding with a hopeful yet bittersweet message, she said, “I will always be watching over you. I always feared leaving you more than I feared dying. You were the best son ever! Till we meet again! Love eternally, mommy.”
The touching culmination of his mother’s presence felt like a soothing reminder that he would get through. That he was not alone in this hurdle of life and that it would not last forever. “I miss her everyday and this makes me cry. But I cry with a smile on my face,” the man wrote. He revealed in a comment that his dad, too, passed away shortly. “Both passed away within a month of each other and the funerals were exactly a month apart. Both from cancer as well (very different, though),” he said. His mom’s letter became a source of strength when he needed it and carried him throughout. He learned a crucial message — “Just remember to tell the people you love how much they mean to you. And remind them every day that you love them.”