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
My parents are from the Caribbean, they have been gone for over ten years, and the time has flown by. They are always in my thoughts, especially on fathers day, mothers day, birthdays, christmas. I remember dancing with dad, standing on his feet and gliding round the dance floor, not a care in the world, great times. I'm doing a note to my daughter , mainly because all I have from mum and da are photos, which I love, but its not quite the same as a personal letter. Great idea you guys have come up with, all the best to you. xxx
Some of these stories really are so amazing and thanks to everyone for sharing them on here. I have a similar story and one that I am happy to share with you all despite the tragic circumstances that go with it.
Back in 2010 my Mother passed away aged 70 and I could see how hard this had effected my Father, as he never seemed his usual happy self after her passing.
For years every summer they would go away for 2 weeks to Torquay and stay in the same hotel every time and when the first summer arrived following her death, I encouraged my Father to go away for 2 weeks in the summer to Torquay again(as Mum would have wanted this). After a lot of persuading from myself(he felt guilty going there without my Mother), he decided to do this with his good friend Fred who he had known for years.
I spoke with my Father on the phone after the 4th day but on the Wednesday morning we received a call from Fred to say that my Father wasn't feeling very well and had chosen to remain in bed that morning and was going back to sleep. In my head,I just thought that they had probably over done it a bit and that my Father would soon be up.
Unfortunately the next call we received was later that evening from the Hotel Manager to say that my Father had passed away late that afternoon. It came as a complete shock and something I obviously was not expecting to hear and I instantly felt guilty for encouraging him to go on this holiday and for not speaking to him on the morning of his death.
On the Saturday morning I was still feeling extremely guilty when my Wife passed me a postcard and I instantly recognised the beach on the front of it as being that of Torquay. I turned it over and realised that it was a postcard that my Father had sent to me and it was dated on the Tuesday, a day before his death.
I began reading the card as he wrote what he had been doing so far and then went on to write the following 'I am so pleased that you convinced me to go on holiday Son and I am sure that your Mum is looking down and proud of you for persuading me to go to Torquay with Fred, not felt this happy since your Mum was still alive so thank you so much Son'
I immediately broke down in tears but felt a huge relief and it was so wonderful to know that my Father was happy again prior to his passing.
This postcard and in particular that message meant the world to me and I actually have this precious postcard framed and on the wall at home amongst photos of my Mother and Father and in particular a photo of them both whilst together on holiday in Torquay.
I know how precious this special message was for me to receive so I can totally understand why your service is such a wonderful idea and I wish you all the very best with it and encourage people to seriously think about making messages for their family members.
Alan Joseph
Reading the stories on here reminded me of a lovely gift that 2 years ago,my Son gave to me on my 60th birthday. My Mum passed away in 2002 at the ripe old age of 82 and other than photos and sentimental items of hers, that was all that I had. But for my 60th birthday, my Son gave me a 3 min video file which was footage of my Mum that he had filmed at a family wedding back in 1996 and something that I had completely forgotten about and had not even realised existed. The video showed my Mum laughing and smiling at the wedding meal and also showed my Mum and I dancing together at the wedding reception. Quite honestly it took my breath away to see this after all this time and I could not have wished for a more perfect and surprising gift.
My Son explained that he had filmed it on an old video recorder and that the original recording had been stored away and actually forgotten about and was only by chance that he found the tape again after having a sort out of his garage. This video means the world to me and is a priceless piece of history that I am so lucky to have. It also made me think about leaving a surprise video for my Son and that is how I came across your My Fare Well Note website.
Hope people enjoy my story, Mr Richard Harte
Was told about your website by a friend and have since signed up and made some messages for my family members. Then I saw your forum and read some of the terrific posts that have been shared and felt that I would add my own little story.
My Father was a huge Liverpool supporter and he passed away at 18.05hrs on the 9th May 1992. The reason that the time and date is significant is that it was the same date that Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 in the FA Cup Final. Lying in his hospital bed, we had the match on the TV and throughout the 90 mins despite him being very poorly and unable to speak, he still appeared to be well aware of what was happening and when Liverpool lifted the cup he managed to raise a smile which is a vision that I will never forget. A few days after he passed away and when going through some of his personal belongings we found a copy of a betting slip and in his distinctive writing it said '£20 LIVERPOOL TO WIN THE FA CUP' . We never cashed it in and to this day we still have this betting slip now in a frame which serves as a great memory of my Father and somewhat of a lasting message from him.
