A Newcastle man facing his final days penned an emotional love letter to his wife and twin daughters, leaving behind a powerful legacy of love and wisdom.
A Sudden and Devastating Diagnosis
Brad Smith, 55, from Mayfield, received the devastating news just three weeks before his passing on Monday at John Hunter Hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with an aggressive grade four glioblastoma, an incurable form of brain cancer that rapidly led to palliative care.
His wife, Kelly Marshall, described watching her husband's decline as "a nightmare, total hell." The most heartbreaking moment came when they had to tell their nine-year-old twin daughters, Yolande and Maple, that their father was dying. "Telling our girls that he was going to die broke my heart. Seeing them fall and scream will haunt me," Ms Marshall shared.
Final Words of Love and Wisdom
In his final days, Mr Smith wrote touching letters to his family, expressing the depth of his love and offering guidance for their future without him.
To his wife Kelly, he wrote: "You were my first and only true love. I never knew kindness until I met you. I truly didn't think it existed." He described her as appearing "at a time when I felt lost, and I've always thought that you were my saviour."
For his daughters, he offered both comfort and life advice: "You fill my heart with your beautiful happiness. I love your laughter and playfulness, your cheeky and kind nature." He urged them to "keep being kind, please, even when it's really hard because that's when it's most important" and to "care for and protect each other."
His most poignant promise to them was: "I will love you into eternity. Be confident to chase your dreams because dreams are special."
A Life Celebrated and Remembered
Mr Smith worked as a videographer specialising in Super 8 film for weddings, an occupation he described as "an honour to create beautiful memories for people." He saw weddings as "just like a movie" with "characters, costumes, hair and makeup, the scenes and the story."
His colleague, photographer Zoe Morley, started a GoFundMe campaign titled "Helping Brad and His Family Through This Difficult Time" after working with him on November 1, when he first began feeling unwell. "By the next morning he could not remember anything from the wedding we had just shot together," Ms Morley recalled.
Ms Marshall expressed gratitude to the hospital staff, Mark Hughes Foundation nurses and palliative care team for their "kindness and caring" during this difficult period.
In his personal reflections, Mr Smith wrote about loving "the cold, staring at flames and glam rock" and finding joy in "hearing the birds sing in the morning." His final advice to others championed "authenticity over approval" and encouraged people to "make art for yourself, not the crowd."
