Hope you don't mind me posting this in here but after reading what you do, I felt I needed to share some of this and here seems like a good place to do it.
Firstly my Father died 18 months ago from lung cancer. One of his favourite songs that he always use to sing to my sisters and I was 'Love Me Tender' by Elvis. About 3 weeks before he died, I asked him to sing this to us again and so took out my phone and recorded him doing this. I watch back on that video now 18 months since he died and yes it is my Father on the video, but due to the illness taking hold of him, he was not the same man. His voice is not the same and he looked so different and unwell. Suppose what I am trying to say is, I wish that I had a video like this of him before the cancer took control and changed him as a person. If I had thought about it, I would have recorded him in the very early stages when he was more like himself, more like the Father I knew and loved. Had I known about what you do, then I could have arranged for him to do it through your website.
So if someone is in a similar position to what my Father was in, do something like this as soon as you can because I promise you, your sons,daughters, partner, grandchildren will completely cherish having something like the video that I had but let them remember you how you was before any horrible disease takes over. Not meaning to sound selfish, just being totally honest.
My Husband died 4 years ago. It was totally unexpected and he died in his sleep.No chance to say 'goodbye' and came as a huge shock which took me months and months to fully get over and understand. One thing that helped me through it was something that even now I find incredible and almost like a miracle to me. 4 months after he died, my Son was trying to download an app on my mobile phone for me(I am useless with phones). He then told me that I had an unheard voicemail message showing(I had no idea that I even had voicemail set up). My Son passed the phone to me to listen and the voice I heard was that of my late Husband...
"Hi Shazza it's Dave, any chance we can have fish n chips tonight, my treat or are you working late tonight. Anyhow babe, let me know in the next hour and I shall pick it up on my way home. If you don't reply,I know you are working late and will just get some for myself. Love you loads and always will, see ya soon"
Listening to his voice after all that time and being able to listen to this whenever I wanted, was like a miracle. It has helped me so much and has given me something special to remember him by and being able to hear his voice whenever I want has been a great comfort to me.
Again what I am saying to people is that you never know when any one of our friends or family are going to be taken from us so do something like this whilst you can. I am going to be signing up to myfarewellnote today and leaving video messages for my 2 Sons and Daughter because I know only too well, how much this will help them if the worst thing was to happen.
Hope my stories will make people think and thanks for letting me post them on here.
Sharon
Thank you so much for posting this truly emotional post and so sorry to hear about your loss.
Can honestly say reading this has brought a tear to my eyes and we really appreciate your honesty and openness with regards to these 2 very personal moments in your life.
I am sure that many people will read this and feel exactly the same as I have and really hope that it will inspire people to really think about this should they or someone else be in a similar position to your Father.
As for your Husband, I think it just goes to show how precious a little message like this is for someone who is grieving like you were and it is wonderful to hear how much of a difference it made to you just hearing his voice again.
We are always here for you Sharon and feel free to contact us should you need to
Hi Sharon - I've just read your story and apart from binging a lump t my throat, I just had to write because something very similar happened to a friend of mine. Without naming names and going into too much detail, my friend tragically lost her husband in a motor cycle accident. To this day, both of us can't really believe it happened but my reason for writing is because 24 hours after being told the terrible news, she went to her mobile hone to see a voice message appear from him. It totally freaked her out to start with but i don't know if you are the same but this happens to me from time to time where messages appear a day or so after they were recorded. She eventually plucked up the courage to listen to it and it was a message from her husband, left not long before the accident, saying how much he loved her and that he couldn't wait to get home and cuddle up on the settee. I know some people will find this strange but my friend says that she listens to the message every day of her life as it gives her such an enormous lift, knowing how much he loved her and also being able to hear his voice again. I've got a tear in my eye now just writing this but I just felt compelled to have to share that story. I wish you all the best Sharon and so sorry for your loss.
Wow Paul L thank you for posting this and another story that I think we bring a tear to most peoples eyes. Certainly gives me 'goosebumps' reading these sort of wonderful stories.
Please keep posting your stories here as I am sure lots of people are enjoying reading and hopefully finding them an inspiration
Hi Sharon & Paul, they are heart wrenching stories. I have a similar story in that, my dad was setting up a surprise party for mum's 40th birthday. In short, driving home with her family and friends waiting, she was killed in a car wreck. She had left a message for dad before she left work saying she was running late and looking forward to going out for a meal later, and that she loved him. He still listens to this message 6 years on. He even recorded it to another device in case he lost it or his cell failed. Myfarewellnote was not available then, but dad and all of us have done messages for each other, its such a great idea. Dale, North Dakota.
Hi Dale - i just wanted to say sincere thanks for sharing your story. As I type this i have a lump in my throat. What a terrible event to have had to endure. I can totally understand your Dad playing the message. I know that I would do the same. I can't express how much all of these stories are getting to me but they are the exact reasons we know that our app is the right ting to do. Thanks so much and from everyone here, we wish you and the family all the very best.
I've been reading the stories that have been posted on your forum and although this one isn't quite the same, I think it fits with what you've tried to do with your service and I've certainly signed up as a result. My story goes back to 2015 when it breaks my heart to say that i lost my wonderful gorgeous wife Angie, to cancer. She fought a brave battle for 2 years but we sadly lost her and our beautiful daughter Amy lost her wonderful mum. Angie passed away in the June and when it came round to Christmas, Amy asked why I hadn't out the Christmas tree and decorations up. I told her that the thought of doing it without Angie just cut me in two but seeing the disappointment on Amy's face just broke my heart as well so i eventually went into the loft to gather the decorations. As I unpacked the tree from it's box, i saw a white envelope and I thought it was really strange. It had my name on it and Amy's. I can tell you that my heart was pounding as I opened and read the letter. It started off "Well it's about time you got round to putting the decorations up grumpy." That was a reference to me hating putting up decorations only to have t take them all down again a month later. The letter went on to reveal so many amazing messages to the two of us and also described what Christmas meant to Angie and having us a family. As I am typing this now, I have tears rolling down my face. The letter was amazing and is something I will treasure forever. It ended, "now go and have a great Christmas, smile, laugh and remember the great times we had together and I'll be watching over you always xxx." Rather than run the risk that a hand written letter might get lost, i set up one of your notes so that my daughter will always have it ready and waiting just in case the worst happened.
My daddy has cancer, my sister had cancer, I talk to my dad everyday, I need to go see him soon...I have moved to Florida and he and my mother live in Michigan. Our time here on Earth is so precious and limited...Thank you for taking the time to write about something so important, we must all cherish each day we have and each other.
I have looked at your site and what it does. Reading the posts on here is heart breaking for me as I too lost my brother to a motorbike accident back in 2014. We had been celebrating his 24th Birthday and sang a song together at a Karaoke night. The song was " Bridge over troubled water" because he was a massive fan of Simon & Garfunkel. It was just the best night. I was forwarded the moment from a friend who captured it on her phone. He was killed 6 weeks later. I watch this movies when I am missing him the most. I've never heard of a web site holding messages and videos from our loved ones, and it goes to show, we never know when we will be taken. I love this idea and have signed up. This should be a household name, forget life Insurance and wills, this is what you need. Thanks MFN. Louise - Alberta??
Hi Elisa - I’m not sure how old you are but they are wise words on potentially young shoulders. So sorry to hear your news. If we can encourage just a few people to leave notes for their loved ones, then we’ve done our job. Send our best wishes to your Dad
Hi Louise - your story is so touching and your words totally sum up why we created this service. The founder Steve McIlroy lost 18 colleagues when’s serving in the armed forces and then his best friend very suddenly. None had the chance to say goodbye and that’s what prompted Steve to create the service. We are so sorry to hear your story but treasure that video as I’m sure you do. Take care
