Young woman's heartbreaking last words
In harrowing detail Layla Hooper, 22, from Toowoomba in Queensland, Australia, explained how she "had to go through things only women in their 50s and 60s should go through"
A young woman's heartbreakingly honest final words from beyond the grave were read out at her funeral after she died from 'silent killer' ovarian cancer .
Layla Hooper, 22, penned the letter detailing her experience, thoughts and emotions before she passed away from the disease.They were read out by her cousin at her funeral service yesterday - in Layla's hope that people would not feel sad for her but to raise awareness of the disease.The Australian wanted to explain to people what she was going through - and how she had been determined to "never give up fighting", remained positive and refused to 'let cancer define her'.
READ LAYLA'S FULL LETTER READ AT HER FUNERAL BELOW
It ends: "Yeah I am scared of not knowing what is next but I've got to keep trying and never give up fighting.
"What if it was your sister, daughter or mother?"
Layla lost her hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer on November 11 - after originally being diagnosed stage three at age 17.
She celebrated her 18th birthday cancer-free - but shortly after it returned.
The tablets she took for two years did go some way to shrinking the cancer but eventually they failed and her illness was diagnosed as terminal in June.
Mourners at her funeral at the Christian Outreach Church yesterday heard how she will be remembered for her "beautiful smile and kind heart".Layla's mother Sallyann Hall said her daughter always lived life to the fullest, adding: "She was always so kind, looking out for others especially her nieces and nephews. She loved her family - it meant so much to her.
"She was the wild one out of all our children and loved having fun and partying."