A Dying Mom Has Created A Lifetime Of Greeting Cards For Her Daughter

Heather McManamy says the project has given her a "feeling of control over something that none of us have control over."

Heather McManamy has been fighting breast cancer since 2013. Her disease is terminal, but she's focused on living her life to the fullest.

Heather McManamy

The 35-year-old from Wisconsin is the mom of a 4-year-old little girl named Brianna. Earlier this year, McManamy began thinking of ways to comfort her daughter and husband after she is gone.

Heather McManamy

"It was beyond heartbreaking to know that my daughter and husband would be sad when I passed and there was nothing I could do to comfort them," she told BuzzFeed News.

So McManamy began thinking of ways to give love and support to her family after she passes. She came up with the idea to create a memory box for her daughter, containing cards for all of Brianna's future milestones.

Heather McManamy

The project was hard to start, but McManamy said she soon found it to be therapeutic. "It gives me a feeling of control over something that none of us have control over," she explained.

Heather McManamy

To date, McManamy has created over 40 cards, letters, videos, recordable books, and a box of trinkets for her daughter.

Heather McManamy

McManamy said the letters contain messages for Brianna's birthdays, her wedding, her engagement, her first baby, labor and delivery advice, when she gets her driver's license, her anniversary, and Mother's Day.

They also include more day-to-day messages like encouragement for a tough day, a get well card, a card for a loss of a pet, a "way to kick butt" card, a "here's a hug" card, a card to celebrate Brianna's first beer, one for her first breakup, and cards that tell Brianna she is beautiful, to be herself, and that her mother is proud of her.

The project has made her heart happy, McManamy said. "Most people just die and that's it," she said. "I have been given the gift of time to prepare. To do whatever I can to make this easier on my family."

Heather McManamy

She added that she doesn't see her writing the letters as a way of "giving up" fighting her disease.

"I still have a lot of realistic hope," she said. "While treatment options are dwindling, I'm still here."

It's also OK if Brianna doesn't read all of the cards, she said. "Everyone mourns differently," she said. "But, if there is some way that I can provide comfort, I want it to be there. That brings me comfort and peace of mind beyond words."

Heather McManamy

McManamy said she has decided to share her story to hopefully inspire others to "buy a card or two" themselves. "Most people my age are naive to the unfairness of the world and how fragile life is," she said. "No one is guaranteed tomorrow."

Heather McManamy