What do you think?
Rate this book
Message to My Girl: A Dying Father's Powerful Legacy of Hope
Doctor Jared Noel knew he was dying for almost six years, from the age of 25. But when it looked as though he would not live to see the birth of his child, he began a Givealittle crowd-funding campaign to raise money for a course of chemo treatment that would keep him alive long enough to meet his unborn child. This remarkable campaign, covered by nationwide media, raised an incredible $170,000 in two days. Jared not only lived to see Elise born but also enjoyed her first nine months. Jared's blog, initially written to alleviate boredom during rounds of chemotherapy, attracted hundreds of thousands of readers. He used it to challenge the taboos of death and dying with humor and unnerving honesty, and wrote with clinical precision and pragmatism. Jared had the knack of turning conversation stoppers into conversation starters. In his final weeks, Jared put his story together with the help of writer David Williams, primarily so that his baby daughter Elise might one day know her father. This is Jared's story, but it is also a profound meditation on life and death, and everything in between.
- GenresNonfiction
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 12, 2016
But really, how does one possibly assign 'stars' to the ponderings of a man faced with one of the most heart-wrenching battles. Knowing your are leaving your dreams, your loved ones behind? He went through 89 rounds of chemo??? 89?? I can't even BEGIN to comprehend?? Yet, Jared does this with so much grace, courage, generosity and honesty, that I am left just bereft that such a man was stolen from this world so early. For me, at the beginning, when he mentioned his Christian faith, I had a moment of dread, thinking this would get all preachy, and just talk about God's great purpose - but no, Jared was very much the pragmatist, and very honest about the fact that there is no meaning in suffering. Meaning comes from how we do it, and how we alleviate it for others. This is a man who had incredible dreams to alleviate a lot of suffering in this world and his vision here alone is worthy of acknowledgement. Noble dreams - ones that I feel I might like to work a little harder in my day to day life to honour in his memory too, whilst I make my own life a little more meaningful. Elise was robbed, Jared would have been an amazing father. Fortunately, he had the good grace, and we the good fortune, to have been able to tell his story, through his blogs and this book, and through the amazing wife who also had the blessing of spending some fine years (way too few years - but definitely fine ones) with this guy, who I would have liked one heck of a lot. In fact, if every Christian had the values of community and how time should really be spent 'doing God's work' - well, I might just consider religion being a good thing myself.
There was such raw honesty in here, about what it is to be confronted with a devastating diagnosis, to then ride the rollercoaster of remissions, relapses with hope raised, and then dashed, many times over, and then, he has the heart and generosity to share the very final journey to the last room, that has no exit. I really am quite at a loss for words to describe the sense of 'honour' I feel to have been allowed the privilege of sharing this experience, with him and his family.
But most of all, I close this book and sit in wonder, at the very fact that life is so incredibly fleeting; yet so very, very beautiful. I am reminded, that in our good health, we so often take for granted the minutes, the days, sometimes even the weeks that are gifted to us - and I am ashamed that we do. I wish we could be reminded more often of the very good fortune our good health is. And that the time we sit, taking it all far too seriously, is time that could be better spent enhancing each other's life in companionship, empathy and friendship. Jared epitomised those things and wanted so much to leave behind a legacy that may spread such noble ideals. I give thanks to the co-author and to Hannah Noel for sharing such a huge part of Jared Noel with us all.
There was such raw honesty in here, about what it is to be confronted with a devastating diagnosis, to then ride the rollercoaster of remissions, relapses with hope raised, and then dashed, many times over, and then, he has the heart and generosity to share the very final journey to the last room, that has no exit. I really am quite at a loss for words to describe the sense of 'honour' I feel to have been allowed the privilege of sharing this experience, with him and his family.
But most of all, I close this book and sit in wonder, at the very fact that life is so incredibly fleeting; yet so very, very beautiful. I am reminded, that in our good health, we so often take for granted the minutes, the days, sometimes even the weeks that are gifted to us - and I am ashamed that we do. I wish we could be reminded more often of the very good fortune our good health is. And that the time we sit, taking it all far too seriously, is time that could be better spent enhancing each other's life in companionship, empathy and friendship. Jared epitomised those things and wanted so much to leave behind a legacy that may spread such noble ideals. I give thanks to the co-author and to Hannah Noel for sharing such a huge part of Jared Noel with us all.
October 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this true account of Jared's final weeks.
He hid nothing in this book and yet remained poignant through his suffering.
He's definately a huge loss to the medical field but such a void he has left for Hannah his wife and their daughter.
Tears streamed from me whilst reading his story but a highly recommended read.
He hid nothing in this book and yet remained poignant through his suffering.
He's definately a huge loss to the medical field but such a void he has left for Hannah his wife and their daughter.
Tears streamed from me whilst reading his story but a highly recommended read.
November 23, 2020
"Message to My Girl: A Dying Father's Powerful Legacy of Hope" by Jared Noel
I am such a cry-baby when I read letters written by dying fathers to their offsprings. You begin to live and love differently when you know death is not far away. I picked up this book wanting more of the poignancy and rawness of the emotions that go through a parent's mind knowing they are leaving behind their loved ones, especially when they have children.
Not long ago, my good friend's husband Archie died of brain cancer at the young age of 40. I didn't know him well, but the heartfelt birthday message he wrote to his 9 year old son Justin melted my heart and had me bawling after I finished reading it. I wanted to be bawling in this book, too, but it didn't happen for me.
It's hard to rate a book when there are so many personal feelings involved. The person who put created this book is David Williams. He had used the words of Jared Noel. Noel knew he as going to die of cancer when he was diagnosed at age 27. He was still able to live a fulfilled life of marrying, becoming a doctor, traveling, and even living long enough to share the first few months of his daughter Elise's life.
I wonder how differently this book would have been if it had in fact been written by Jared Noel. I was hoping to learn more about Jared as a person before he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I hope his daughter Elise will get to know a bit of her father through this book. How incredible of his wife Hannah to stand by his side through thick and thin, until his last dying day. Thank you for sharing your story with us. May we also never take for granted each breath we take.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars
I am such a cry-baby when I read letters written by dying fathers to their offsprings. You begin to live and love differently when you know death is not far away. I picked up this book wanting more of the poignancy and rawness of the emotions that go through a parent's mind knowing they are leaving behind their loved ones, especially when they have children.
Not long ago, my good friend's husband Archie died of brain cancer at the young age of 40. I didn't know him well, but the heartfelt birthday message he wrote to his 9 year old son Justin melted my heart and had me bawling after I finished reading it. I wanted to be bawling in this book, too, but it didn't happen for me.
It's hard to rate a book when there are so many personal feelings involved. The person who put created this book is David Williams. He had used the words of Jared Noel. Noel knew he as going to die of cancer when he was diagnosed at age 27. He was still able to live a fulfilled life of marrying, becoming a doctor, traveling, and even living long enough to share the first few months of his daughter Elise's life.
I wonder how differently this book would have been if it had in fact been written by Jared Noel. I was hoping to learn more about Jared as a person before he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I hope his daughter Elise will get to know a bit of her father through this book. How incredible of his wife Hannah to stand by his side through thick and thin, until his last dying day. Thank you for sharing your story with us. May we also never take for granted each breath we take.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars
May 31, 2022
What a beautifully written book on the definitely too short life of Jared Noel. Although I did not have the chance to meet him, I know his sister, and was there at the time he was in his final months and days, and know how devastating his cut short life was for their family and friends.
This story shows so much hope, joy, pain, realization, faith, spirituality, and love, overwhelming love, in the Noel family, in Jared's view of the world and his place and purpose, and in knowing God also.
This book makes you think, appreciate and understand yourself and others a little better, and was an absolute pleasure to read.
The final chapter by Hannah, his wife is so beautiful and touching, and I know Elise will know how much her Dad loved and adored her, and is watching over her to see what she will now achieve and do, the sky is her limit!
Highly recommend, some deep and hard themes, brutal honesty, but overall, love, life and all it entails, however long we get.
This story shows so much hope, joy, pain, realization, faith, spirituality, and love, overwhelming love, in the Noel family, in Jared's view of the world and his place and purpose, and in knowing God also.
This book makes you think, appreciate and understand yourself and others a little better, and was an absolute pleasure to read.
The final chapter by Hannah, his wife is so beautiful and touching, and I know Elise will know how much her Dad loved and adored her, and is watching over her to see what she will now achieve and do, the sky is her limit!
Highly recommend, some deep and hard themes, brutal honesty, but overall, love, life and all it entails, however long we get.
February 18, 2018
I appreciated, so much, this book in which Jared shared his last and dying thoughts, words, theology worries and life with us his faithful blog readers through many interviews with the author. I miss his words so much. I am so grateful to his wife Hannah & to David WW for this collaboration.
Rest In Peace forever Dr Jared & may your girl, your daughter Elise, grow up so strong, so loved and so anointed with a sense of purpose-for her Dad was a wise wonderful man of God & loved her so much.
Rest In Peace forever Dr Jared & may your girl, your daughter Elise, grow up so strong, so loved and so anointed with a sense of purpose-for her Dad was a wise wonderful man of God & loved her so much.
March 24, 2018
I found this book due to my NZ boyfriend being Jareds cousin. Although they weren’t close it was an insight to me for the family spirit and their clearly recognisable inner strength. Such an insightful read that I would recommend to ANYONE as we all know someone touched by cancer. RIP Jared. What a legacy you have left.
April 10, 2020
In particular I enjoyed Jared’s reflection on the purposelessness of suffering. Personal challenges do not bring with them an automatic purpose or meaning - someone must actively create this themself amidst the experience
May 8, 2025
i read this as my husband was dying. It helped give me at least a little understanding of what it feels like to be dying.
A powerful book.
A powerful book.
February 8, 2016
I wanted so badly for Jared's life to be different! Jared was a medical doctor and also a man of christian faith- through his blogs and this book, he shares his thoughts at different stages of his post-diagnosis life. He is a man who thinks critically but is also in touch with his sentiments and discourages giving up hope yet knowing that he must soon accept what is left of his life. Jared is a man that was able to live longer than the time doctors and his prognosis should have allotted him. He welcomes Elise, his daughter, into his life amid the process of treatments and chemo, trying to prolong life as long as he can, simply hoping to live in her memory instead of only through pictures. Jared's hope in leaving behind this book, a culmination of old blog posts and recorded conversations, is to leave an understanding of the man he was (for Elise) all the while trying to understand how he must say goodbye to his wife, daughter, parents, family and friends, while recognizing that his journey on Earth is nearing an end while his loved ones will continue on.
This was a lovely book, I felt it was a bit repetitive at times but the overall message within the book is powerful.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley and its publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lovely book, I felt it was a bit repetitive at times but the overall message within the book is powerful.
*I received an ARC via NetGalley and its publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2015
I first heard of Jared Noel as he was being interviewed on NZ tv, on his experience of being in his twenties and diagnosed with bowel cancer. We got to see further updates,and read his blog as his journey continued with 40+ rounds of chemo and more operations. Working as a junior doctor in Auckland, we got to meet his young wife and lots of kiwis who he hadn't met, donated thousands of dollars to help him have an expensive chemo that would hopefully allow him some time to meet his unborn daughter.
In this book, he is interviewed by the author for 12 sessions in the final weeks of his life, where he talks about all the things that are important in his life, his faith,friends, his career - but most importantly his family and his young daughter that he has got to spend precious time with.
In this book, he is interviewed by the author for 12 sessions in the final weeks of his life, where he talks about all the things that are important in his life, his faith,friends, his career - but most importantly his family and his young daughter that he has got to spend precious time with.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews