A Texas dad quietly passed away, but his death led to a discovery of treasure trove of memories, notes, and a book of poem to make sure that he is never forgotten.
Twenty-six-year-old Mitchell Whisenhunt lived in Longview, Texas, with 22-year-old Ashley, his wife, and daughter Brynleigh, 1 year old.
About 4 years ago, Mitchell developed a progressive debilitating disease called Marfan syndrome, which affected his connective tissues including those of the heart. The family went on to raise funds for his treatment in Go Fund Me. However, on Saturday, October 25, he finally passed away.
While perhaps sorting through his things after his death, Ashley discovered something her husband had been keeping for a long time: over 30 letters addressed to loved ones, including the community where they live, and a collection of poems.
Speaking on KLTV, Ashley shared that most of the letters were written for her and her daughter, with one for each year and special occasion. For example, there's one that says Sweet Sixteen, which means the letter can be read once Brynleigh has already reached such age. His daughter can also expect to receive one from his father each year until she reaches 18.
The collection, on the other hand, is composed of poems Mitchell had written for over 7 years. One of these poems is entitled "Last Moment," which was written during his last few days. According to Ashley, reading this poem brought her to the most recent moments she had with her husband.
Mitchell hopes that the poem, which he intended to be read posthumously along with the personal letters, will be published into a book and shared with the rest of the world.
Mitchell also left a letter to the community, asking them to help support his wife as she goes through grief. He hopes that they will be able to help her financially as well, especially with funeral expenses. Currently, the family and friends are raising funds for Mitchell's funeral by selling shirts and accessories.
