A deeply emotional Reddit post by a 21-year-old man battling stage four colorectal cancer has gone viral and touched hearts on social media as he reflected on his last Diwali and the life he wished he had more time to live.
The young man shared that he was diagnosed in 2023, and despite countless chemotherapy treatments and hospital stays, doctors recently told him there was “nothing left to try.” He admitted he was unlikely to make it this year.
When the Diwali lights had already appeared on the streets, he wrote about how difficult it was to see them, knowing it would be his last festival of lights. “I will miss the lights, the laughter and the noise. Next year, someone else will light the diyas in my place while I only exist in memory,” he said. See post here.
Even as he grappled with the reality of his illness, he admitted that at times he still found himself planning a future he would never see — dreams of traveling, starting his own business and even adopting a dog. “Then I remember running out of time and the thought just disappears,” he wrote, adding that it was painful to see the sadness on his parents’ faces as they cared for him at home.
“Actually I don’t know why I’m posting this. Maybe just to say it all out loud – to leave a little trace before I quietly dissolve into what’s to come,” he concluded, signing off with a teasing “See ya!! ♥️”
The post moved thousands of Reddit users, with many expressing grief and hoping for a miracle. The comments were flooded with heartfelt messages of sympathy, encouragement and reflections on the fragility of life. While some urged him to “hold on to the power”, others said his words were a powerful reminder to appreciate life’s fleeting moments and cherish its simple joys.
The viral post, shared just days before Diwali, sparked widespread emotion online – reminding many to cherish time, relationships and everyday moments even as life’s uncertainties arise.
The user wrote: “Dear god, if miracles happen, let them happen to this guy.”
Another user commented: “I hope a miracle happens and your Cancer is dysfunctional and everything works out! Hang in there man. And make the most of what you have. Take nice long evening walks. Enjoy the birds singing in the morning. Listen to some nice music: anything that makes you shake your leg. Have a nice brunch. Enjoy mimosas. Make most of all and jazz. Make all two friends out of it. man. In the meantime, I really hope a miracle happens. You have all the rooting for you on Reddit. So you are not alone. May the cancerous son of a bitch be defeated! All the best once again!”
A third wrote: “Hugs you tight!”
