Sometimes the mark we leave behind is bigger than we can ever know.
So when Casey McIntyre, a 38-year-old mom, found herself at the end of her life after too short a time on Earth, she knew she had to leave something behind.
The New York woman who had faced her Stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis bravely, also faced her death in the same way.
So, on Nov. 14th, a preplanned social media post read simply: “A note to my friends: if you’re reading this I have passed away.”
It went on to state, “I loved each and every one of you with my whole heart and I promise you, I knew how deeply I was loved.”
But her death was not the end of her need to show her love to others.
She created a campaign on RIPMedicalDebt.org, a charity that will “buy up others’ medical debt and then destroy” it entirely. To date, her campaign has raised more than $600,000.
“I am so lucky to have had access to the best medical care at @MSKCancerCenter, and I am keenly aware that so many in our country don’t have access to good care,” McIntyre had posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), encapsulating the motivation behind her campaign.
Andrew Gregory, McIntyre’s husband, expressed his astonishment and gratitude for the overwhelming response, stating, “Me and Casey’s family are stunned. We’re overwhelmed, and it’s been really powerful to see the response to people wanting to eliminate strangers’ medical debt.”
Daniel Lempert, vice president of communications for RIP Medical Debt, provided insight into the impact of the funds raised, noting that every dollar goes toward canceling $100 in debt. Lempert remarked, “I don’t know if we’ve ever seen something kind of raise as much money as Casey’s campaign has as quickly as it has.”
The uniqueness of McIntyre’s posthumous campaign sets it apart in the realm of charitable endeavors. As Lempert noted, it also marks the first instance of an individual planning a fundraiser to take place after their passing.
McIntyre’s journey, fraught with the challenges of ovarian cancer, began in 2019. Despite the diagnosis, she approached life with unwavering positivity, living fully until her last moments. Her inspiration for the campaign, she said, stemmed from a deep sense of gratitude for the superior medical care she received at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center juxtaposed with the awareness that countless others lacked such access.
As McIntyre’s health declined in the weeks before her passing, her impact on those around her intensified. Her husband, Gregory, reflected on the extra time they had together, stating, “We had six months where we were able to travel, we went to the beach, we went to the river, we had karaoke parties in our house, and Casey had time to plan, and she was a planner.”
a note to my friends: if you’re reading this I have passed away. I’m so sorry, it’s horseshit and we both know it. The cause was stage four ovarian cancer.
I loved each and every one of you with my whole heart and I promise you, I knew how deeply I was loved. pic.twitter.com/xCtiD93S7T
— Casey McIntyre (@caseyrmcintyre) November 14, 2023
Even in the face of adversity, McIntyre embraced the opportunity to share moments with her loved ones, plan her own memorial service, and write letters to her 18-month-old daughter, Grace. Gregory recounted her response to a medical professional expressing sadness about her situation: “‘I don’t have a sad life, I have a happy life. I have you, I have Grace, I have my friends and my family, I live in the perfect apartment that we dreamed up together.’”
McIntyre’s legacy of love and compassion endures as her campaign continues to gain momentum. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the transformative power of kindness, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.
“To see that Casey’s good and happy life is continuing in this way is very beautiful to me,” Gregory said.
Watch below, for a look at this amazing woman’s lasting legacy.
