14 years old girl leaves three letter instructions on her burial before death

The story of 14-year-old Zimbabwean girl Shalom has touched hearts across Zimbabwe and beyond after it emerged that she wrote three emotional letters before her death, including one detailing how she wanted her own funeral to be conducted.

Even as she battled a devastating form of bone cancer, the young girl reportedly found the strength to put her thoughts, wishes and gratitude into writing, leaving behind messages that have moved many people who followed her painful journey.

Shalom spent her final months fighting the disease, enduring difficult medical procedures and relying on the kindness of well-wishers who stepped forward to support her treatment and care.

Her story has since become a moving reminder of the courage children can display when confronted with life-threatening illnesses and the profound impact of compassion during the most difficult moments.

Before her death, Shalom penned three letters, each carrying a message that reflected a different part of her life and the people who stood beside her during her battle with cancer.

One letter was addressed to the nurses and well-wishers who had supported her throughout her illness. In it, she expressed gratitude to those who had shown her kindness, offered encouragement and helped make her difficult journey more bearable.

Despite the pain and uncertainty she faced, Shalom remembered the people who had extended their hands to help her.

Her second letter contained instructions for her funeral, revealing how carefully she had thought about the way she wanted to be remembered.

The teenager requested to be dressed in either a purple outfit or an all-white ensemble. She also expressed a desire for a colourful celebration of her life, one that would honour her smile and the memories she had created rather than focus solely on the suffering she endured.

It was a deeply emotional request from a girl who, despite her young age, appeared determined to leave behind a message of hope and celebration.

Tragically, the purple dress she had wished to wear arrived in Zimbabwe just one day after her death.

The timing added another heartbreaking chapter to a story that had already captured the attention and sympathy of many people.

Her third letter formed part of the final messages she left behind, although further details about its contents have not been provided.

A Family Determined to Honour Her Final Wishes

Shalom’s death left her family devastated, with her stepfather, Joe Phiri, describing the emotional pain of losing the young girl after her prolonged battle with cancer.

Despite their grief, the family remained determined to honour her wishes and give her the farewell she had envisioned.

Her request for a colourful celebration offered the family a way to remember the young girl beyond the hospital visits, medical procedures and suffering that had marked her final months.

For those who had followed her journey, the letters revealed a side of Shalom that went beyond her illness: a young girl who appreciated kindness, valued the people around her and wanted her final farewell to reflect the life she had lived.

A Cancer Battle That Took Her Across the Border

Shalom’s fight against bone cancer had taken her to South Africa in search of specialised medical treatment.

During her battle, she underwent an amputation of her leg, a life-changing procedure undertaken in the hope of addressing the disease.

The treatment journey placed a significant financial burden on those caring for her. According to the account of her medical journey, the procedure was made possible after well-wishers joined forces to raise a deposit of 20,000 South African rand.

Their contributions demonstrated how strangers can unite around a family facing overwhelming medical challenges.

In addition to financial assistance, Shalom received practical support as her condition deteriorated.

A well-wisher donated an oxygen machine for her use at home, helping provide support during the final stages of her illness.

The donation was another example of the compassion shown to the teenager as her family navigated the difficult realities of caring for a seriously ill child.

Shalom’s death has left a painful void in the lives of her family and those who supported her, but the letters she left behind have given her story a lasting emotional significance.

Her message of gratitude to nurses and well-wishers highlights the importance of compassionate care, while her funeral instructions reveal her wish to be remembered through colour, smiles and celebration.

At just 14, she faced challenges that would overwhelm many adults. Yet, throughout her battle, she remained connected to the people who helped her and took the time to express what mattered to her.

Her story is also a reminder of the financial and emotional difficulties families face when seeking treatment for serious illnesses, particularly when specialised care requires travelling across borders.

For Joe Phiri and the rest of her family, the pain of losing Shalom will not disappear easily. However, honouring her final wishes offers them an opportunity to celebrate the life of a young girl whose courage and appreciation for kindness touched so many hearts.

Though her battle with cancer has ended, Shalom’s three letters remain a poignant reminder that even in the face of immense suffering, gratitude, love and the desire to be remembered with a smile can endure.