A 12-year-old girl who died following a battle with cancer left a secret message hidden on the back of her mirror.
Athena Orchard died last Wednesday after losing her fight with the terminal disease. Just days after her death, Athena’s father discovered a note written in marker pen on the back of his daughter’s mirror.
Athena was diagnosed with cancer after she discovered a small lump on her head in December last year.
Before she died, she penned the lengthy message which remained undiscovered until days after her death and among the notes she wrote: “Every day is special, so make the most of it. Life is only bad if you make it bad.”
Despite the difficulties, Athena's note showed an unstintingly positive outlook on life.
She wrote: "Happiness depends upon ourselves... Maybe it's not about the happy ending, maybe it's about the story... The purpose of life is a life of purpose."
Athena, who leaves behind six sisters and three brothers, added: "I'm waiting to fall in love with someone I can open my heart to. Love is not about who you can see spending your future with it's about who you can't see spending your life without. Life is a game for everyone but love is the only prize."
At Christmas, Athena collapsed at home and was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. In the following months, she underwent intense chemotherapy to treat the cancer in her spine, her left shoulder and her head.
She had to have a seven-and-a-half-hour operation to remove the tumour on her spine and wore a wig to cover her hair-loss.
Her father, Dean, said: “It was a stand-up mirror in her room, and it was always lent up against the wall so we never saw behind it. When I moved the mirror after she died I couldn’t believe it, I saw all this writing, it must have been about 3,000 words. I started reading it but before long I had to stop because it was too much, it was heartbreaking.”
Her mother, Caroline, 37, said: “We knew that Athena loved to write, that was part of who she was, it made her happy. We’re keeping the mirror forever, it is a part of her we can keep in the house, it will always be in her room.
“Just reading her words felt like she was still here with us, she had such an incredible spirit.”
Mirror message
Mirror message
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Mirror message
'EVERY DAY IS SPECIAL': EXCERPTS FROM ATHENA'S MOVING MESSAGE
Happiness depends upon ourselves. Maybe it's not about the happy ending, maybe it's about the story.
The purpose of life is a life of purpose. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
Happiness is a direction not a destination. Thank you for existing. Be happy, be free, believe, forever young. You know my name, not my story.
You have heard what I've done, but not what I've been through. Love is like glass, looks so lovely but it's easy to shatter.
Love is rare, life is strange, nothing lasts and people change. Every day is special, so make the most of it, you could get a life ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day. Life is only bad if you make it bad.
If someone loves you, then they wouldn't let you slip away no matter how hard the situation is. Remember that life is full of ups and downs.
Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about. I want to be that girl who makes the bad days better and the one that makes you say my life has changed since I met her!
Love is not about how much you say I love you – it’s about how much you can prove it’s true. Love is like the wind, you can feel it but you can't see it. I'm waiting to fall in love with someone I can open my heart to.
Love is not about who you can see spending your future with, it's about who you can't see spending your life without... Life is a game for everyone but love is the prize. Only I can judge me.
Sometimes love hurts. Now I’m fighting myself. Baby I can feel your pain. Dreams are my reality. It hurts but it’s okay, I’m used to it.
Don't be quick to judge me, you only see what I choose to show you... you don't know the truth. I just want to have fun and be happy without being judged.
This is my life, not yours, don't worry about what I do. People gonna hate you, rate you, break you, but how strong you stand, that’s what makes you… you!
There's no need to cry because I know you'll be by my side.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”