Children are very precious. They provide us with a lot of laughter, fun and they challenge us from time to time too. When they depart this world early it's devastating and the family that they've left behind often find it very difficult to move on.

Twelve year old Athena Orchard of New Parks, Leicester, England lost her battle with cancer last Wednesday that she had been battling with for six months, left a very special message to her family that they just discovered. The family had received many thoughts, prayers and well-wishes, but her dad Dean received the most precious gift, a written message from his daughter on the back of her stand up mirror.

Just days after her death he was moving some of her stuff and discovered a very moving note that was written on the back of a large mirror that she often spent time behind. He now knows what she was doing back there and some of the lines from the note say things like:

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."

After discovering it and reading part of it, Dean said,

It's so touching. When I first saw it, it just blew me away. I started reading it but before long I had to stop because it was too much – it was heartbreaking."

Athena is survived by her mom, dad, six sisters and three brothers and will be laid to rest on June 12th.

The following is an excerpt from Athena's message from Leicester Mercury.

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, without the downs the ups don’t mean anything.

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.”

This little girl must have been amazing with a very sweet soul. She penned words that we all could live with and live by.

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